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THE 


LIFE   AND   DEATH 


OF 


SAM, 


IN    VIRGINIA 


BY  A  VIEGINIAN. 


"Yet  have  they  many  baits  and  guileful  spells  to  inveigle  and  invite  the 
unwary  sense." 


KICHMOND: 
PUBLISHED    FOR    THE    AUTHOK. 

A.    MORRIS. 

_  —          •• 

1856. 


ENTERED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  or  CONGRESS  IN  THE  TEAS  1856, 

BY  A.  MORRIS, 

In  THE  CLBIK'S  Omcx  OF  THE  DISTEICT  COUBT  or  THE  UNITED  STATES,  JOE  TH« 
EASTKRN  DISTRICT  or  VIRGINIA. 


Cr/tfe  JL 


TO 

THE  DEMOCRATS   OF  VIRGINIA; 
THE    DEMOCRATS    OF    THE    SOUTH; 

AND   tO 

NATIONAL  DEMOCRATS, 

WHEREVER   FOUND   WITHIN   THE   BROAD    LIMITS    OP 
THIS   NATION, 

THIS   VOLUM  E 

18     RESPECTFULLY     DEDICATED, 
BY   IH1 

AD  THOR. 


1118250 


PREFACE. 


THIS  little  volume  now  goes  forth  to  the  public. 
Take  it.  Deal  with  it  as  it  deserves.  If  it  proves 
to  be  acceptable,  the  author  will  be  gratified.  But 
if  public  opinion  shall  decide  against  it,  he  will 
attribute  the  fault  to  the  book,  not  to  its  readers. 
Though  whatever  may  be  its  fate,  he  will  feel 
the  pleasing  consciousness  (of  which  he  cannot 
be  robbed)  that  the  volume  is  written  with  the 
hope  of  doing  good — good  to  "  the  cause"  for  which 
he  writes — the  Democratic  cause  of  Virginia,  and 
the  Union.  He  (in  common  with  his  Democratic 
brethren)  regards  Know  Nothingism  as  absolutely 
dangerous  to  the  well  being  of  our  institutions; 
and  if,  in  his  picture  of  "THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH 
OF  SAM  IN  YIKGINIA,"  he  shall  bring  one  single 
Virginian  from  the  error  of  his  ways,  to  the  light 
and  truth  of  Democracy,  then  his  effort  has  not 
been  wholly  in  vain. 


vu 


fife  anb  §eatjj  of  Sam  in  iirginia. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

THE  night  was  dark  and  dreary :  'twas  half  past 
ten  o'clock.  The  year  was  the  early  part  of  1854. 
The  place  was  a  city  in  Virginia.  When  and  where 
a  small  party  of  men  had  assembled  together  in  a 
remote  room  of  a  house,  not  too  public.  About  the 
conduct  of  each  there  was  a  sort  of  nervous  rest 
lessness  exhibited,  which  showed  too  plainly  that 
conscience  was  at  work,  or  that  they  found  them 
selves  in  a  novel  position ;  perhaps  about  to  assume 
relations  towards  their  fellow-citizens,  the  virtue,  if 
not  the  policy  of  which,  might  be  questioned. 
Scarce  a  word  was  breathed,  and  when  breathed, 
amounted  not  even  to  a  respectable  whisper. 
Melancholy  seemed  hovering  around  those  dark 
walls;  no  cheerful  light  issued  from  the  dark  lan 
tern  to  dispel  the  gloom.  The  men  waited  and 
watched  in  silence  and  in  sadness.  "He  will  not 
come ;  so,  gentlemen,  I  will  leave  you,"  said  one  of 
the  party.  "No,"  "No,"  cried  some  half  a  dozen  or 
more;  "delay  but  one  moment,  he  will  be  here — he 
will  not  disap — "  "No,  that  he  will  not,  in  such  a 
cause,"  said  a  brisk  little  man,  raising  the  latch, 

2  (13) 


14          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA 

and  bouncing  in  their  midst.  "Why,"  continued 
he  in  the  same  breath,  "what's  the  matter,  fellows, 
good  and  brave,  why  do  I  see  these  long  faces?  you 
have  come  together  to  discuss  our  country's  cause — 
Americans  should  rule  America;  bah  I  The  Locos 
are  gone;  we'll  fix  the  trap  to  take  them.  Come, 
cheer  up;  a  little  of  this  will  warm  up  your 
spirits."  And  taking  out  a  good  sized  brandy 
bottle,  he  dispensed  its  contents  to  all  around.  "And 
now,"  said  he,  "we'll  proceed  to  business.  Tem 
perance  is  a  good  thing,  and  so  is  spirits  '  of  a  cold 
night.'  " 

The  business  before  this  assembly  of  individuals, 
was  to  read  over  and  discuss  the  principles  of  the  so- 
calkd  American  party,  as  put  forth  in  their  ritual 
by  the  Grand  Council  of  Northern  fanatics,  with 
the  view  of  attempting  the  Northern  game  on  Vir 
ginia  soil.  The  discussion  of  these  principles  will  be 
recorded  in  another  chapter.  It  being  necessary  to 
make  the  reader  acquainted  previously  with  the 
melancholy-looking  gentlemen  who  figure  therein. 
Melancholy  not  naturally,  but  from  circumstances, 
as  above  intimated.  All  of  which  vanished  as  soon 
as  the  brandy  and  water,  mixed  with  the  gay  humor 
and  volubility  of  the  frisky  little  gentleman  began  to 
operate.  He  saw  at  a  glance  that  the  depression  of 
his  companions  arose  from  a  sense  of  guilt  in  having 
met  together  for  a  purpose  that  in  their  hearts  they 
could  but  feel  should  be  foreign  to  a  true  Virginian's 
aim.  Therefore,  it  was  all  important  that  these  silly 
scruples,  as  he  thought  them,  should  be  conquered 
by  a  fair  first  impression ;  hence  his  recourse  to  his 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF    SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.          15 

fund  of  humor  and  his  brandy  bottle.  "We  have 
already  said  that  this  man  was  a  little  man ;  we  have 
said  moreover  that  he  was  frisky ;  but  as  there  are 
other  small  men  in  the  world,  the  reader  would  not 
recognize  him.  So  we  must  introduce  him  formally, 
as  Mr.  Bob  Dobby,  familiarly  known  as  little  Bobby. 
Sometimes  simply  Dobby.  True  enough  he  was 
called  Eobert  at  the  baptismal  font,  when  he  was 
very  small,  after  his  father,  but  unfortunately,  his 
parents  could  not  agree  as  parents  should ;  so 
one  bright  morning  the  elder  Dobby  took  out  for 
Texas,  leaving  behind  the  little  Bobby  and  a  pre 
mature  widow.  The  widow  was,  as  widows  some 
times  are,  of  an  unforgiving  disposition.  She  would 
never  be  reconciled  to  the  desertion,  no,  not  after 
the  time  when  the  law  would  consider  the  husband 
dead,  and  allow  her  to  take  another  in  his  stead. 
She  "  never,  no  never,  would  forgive  him,  it  was  his 
business  to  have  lived  with  her,  even  if  she  did  worry 
his  life  out  of  him,  and  what  is  more,"  said  she  "this 
child  shall  not  be  called  Eobert,  it  would  be  unchris- 
tian-like  to  change  his  name  after  the  good  minister 
sprinkled  it  into  him.  I  will  not  change  his  name, 
but  he  shall  be  called  Bob  ;"  "  Bob,  my  boy,  do  you 
hear  that  ?  Come,  I  will  teach  you  to  write  your 
name,"  and  the  old  lady  actually  sat  down  and  drew 
the  boy  to  her  side,  and  taught  him  to  scratch 
"  B-O-B."  This  early  impression  thus  instilled  in  the 
youth's  mind  by  the  gushing  outpourings  of  maternal 
kindness  was  not  effaced  by  time,  and  we  find  him  to 
this  day,  signing  his  name  Bob  Dobby.  They,  that 
is  Bob  and  the  widow,  lived  on  a  small  farm  in 


16          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

Lower  Virginia.  This  farm  was  left  by  Dobby,  Sr., 
not  out  of  regard  to  the  welfare  of  Mrs.  Dobby  and 
Dobby,  Jr.,  but  as  has  been  shr/wdly  guessed,  because 
he  could  not  remove  it  to  Texas,  as  he  carried  every 
thing  moveable,  even  a  couple  of  new  laid  duck 
eggs,  that  he  picked  up  on  his  way  to  the  stable. 

As  a  general  thing,  there  is  no  district  of  country 
to  be  found  anywhere  in  which  the  inhabitants  enjoy 
better  health  than  in  Lower  Virginia,  except  in  par 
ticular  localities ;  it  happened  that  the  farm  on  which 
the  mother  and  son  lived,  was  subject  annually  to 
that  chilling  visitation  which  the  malaria  from  the 
swamps  scatters  broadcast  over  these  localities.  The 
ague  and  fever  seized  hold  of  the  poor  boy,  while  he 
was  yet  very  young,  and  shook  him  well  and  tho 
roughly,  almost  to  the  last  shake;  but,  somehow  or 
other,  he  always  came  out  of  the  spell  just  as  the 
neighbors  and  doctors  were  about  to  give  him  up,  a 
little  more  drawn  in  the  knees,  a  little  yellower,  a 
little  tougher,  but  not  dead.  As  the  world  might 
consider  it  undignified  in  a  gentleman  of  his  standing 
at  the  time  we  are  engaged  in  reviewing  his  life,  to 
write  his  name  Bob  instead  of  Eobert,  we  deem  it 
proper,  as  a  faithful  biographer,  to  explain  what  might 
appear  affectation  or  foolishness ;  it  was  wholly  his 
mother's  doings,  and  no  fault  of  his.  And  as  some 
persons,  the  ladies  particularly,  with  what  justice  we 
will  not  undertake  to  say,  have  more  respect  for  a  good 
sized  man  than  for  the  dumpy  Tom  Tit  fellows,  we 
have  therefore  thought  proper  to  state  why  he  grew 
so  much  and  no  more :  he  was  doubtless  intended  for 
a  man  of  fine  size  and  proportions ;  it  was  the  ague's 


LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA.          17 

doings  and  no  fault  of  his.  The  public,  therefore, 
should  acquit  him  of  all  censure  as  regards  his  name 
and  size.  He  obeyed  his  mother — that  he  was  mo 
rally  bound  to  do;  he  obeyed  the  icy  hand  the  foul 
malaria  suspended  over  his  head — and  this  he  was 
naturally  bound  to  do;  he  obeyed  his  mother,  he 
obliged  nature.  Now  who  can  dare  utter  a  censure 
against  his  name  or  size?  So,  on  these  two  points, 
Bob  Dobby  stands  acquitted.  By  virtue  of  economy, 
and  by  the  happy  quality  possessed  by  but  few,  that  of 
showing  only  the  gilded  side  of  things  to  the  world, 
the  mother  managed  to  maintain  herself  and  family 
with  surprising  respectability,  considering  the  cir 
cumstances  in  which  her  Lord  Dobby  left  her.  She 
wished  to  give  her  boy  a  good  education,  could  and 
did  send  him  to  a  good  country  school,  but  feared 
she  could  never  enter  him  in  a  college ;  she  feared, 
but  still  she  hoped.  She  had  an  elder  sister,  much 
her  elder,  who  was  very  well  to  do  in  this  world's 
goods,  which  no  Dobby,  nor  any  of  his  kind,  could 
ever  lay  hands  upon  and  scatter  to  the  winds,  as  her 
sister's  had  been  scattered.  The  widow  would  oftimes 
say  to  her  son,  "  Now,  Bob,  if  your  old  Aunt  Jemima 
would  only  take  you  up  and  send  you  to  college, 
what  a  kind  act  it  would  be  in  her.  She  has  a  plenty 
and  to  spare  ;  she  would  not  miss  it  at  all.  But  she 
will  not  do  it.  No;  she  has  never  loved  me  as  a 
sister  should,  since  I  ran  off  and  married  your  father. 
She  has  never  made  you  a  single  present,  except  the 
pair  of  little  worsted  socks,  when  you  were  too 
young  to  appreciate  them,  which  you  did  not  wear 
but  once.  I  had  put  them  on  you,  and  held  you  to 

2* 


18          LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF   SAM    IN   VIRGINIA. 

a  glass,  and  they  made  you  laugh.  You  cried  to  see 
them  again,  but  your  father  said  'twas  because  they 
scratched  your  little  feet,  and  he  snatched  them  oft' 
and  threw  them  behind  the  fire.  Nurse  told  your 
Aunt  Jemima  about  it ;  she  became  enraged,  and 
vowed  she  would  never  speak  to  either  of  us  again ; 
and  to  this  day  she  has  not  spoken  to  me,  has  not 
come  near  me  in  all  my  troubles.  She  says  that  all 
her  property  is  to  be  appropriated  to  some  charitable 
purpose.  But,  Bobby,  she  has  never  made  her  will. 
Like  most  old  maids,  she  has  no  idea  of  her  own  age, 
and  if  she  could  only  pass  away  when  her  time  comes 
— I  would  not  hasten  it,  for  I  want  her  to  repent — 
without  that  will,  I  would  be  heir  to  all  her  estate." 
The  old  lady  died  before  Bob  was  too  old  to  go  to 
college.  Her  papers  were  examined,  and  among 
them  was  a  piece  of  parchment,  on  which  tlic-sc 
remarkable  words  were  written:  "My  will"  "  Hy 
last  will."  "My  testament"  "The  world  was  once 
without  form  and  void,  says  the  good  Testament; 
this,  my  testament,  says  that  this  wiH  is  without 
form,  but  it  shant  be  void.  I  call  upon  all  good 
sherifis,  constables,  lawyers,  and  judges,  to  see  that  it 
is  executed.  Out  of  my  horror  for  Eoman  Catholics, 
and  out  of  my  abomination  for  all  foreigners,  I  am 
led  to  aid  my  countrymen.  I  therefore  give  and 
bequeath  unto  General  Scott,  on  account  of  the  zeal 
exhibited  by  him  in  maintaining  the  Native  Ameri 
can  party,  all  my  estate,  both  real  and  personal,  to  be 
by  him  faithfully  applied  in  furthering  the  great  cause 
of  Native  Americanism,  in  whatever  manner  his  judg 
ment  may  direct.  The  General,  before  he  finishes 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.          19 

distributing  the  proceeds  of  the  property  to  the  end 
herein  designed,  will  please  reserve  so  much  as  will 
buy  a  pair  of  handsome  boots,  to  be  presented  by 
him  to  my  nephew  Bobby  Dobby,  of  the  State  of 
Virginia ;  and  I  hope  he,  the  said  Bobby  Dobby, 
will  entertain  too  kind  a  remembrance  of  his  old 
aunt  to  treat  them  as  his  father  before  him  did  the 
little  red  socks." 

This  curious  paper  was  written  in  the  old  lady's 
hand,  and  evidently  intended  as  her  last  will  and 
testament,  but  it  was  not  signed,  so  that  the  lawyers 
told  Mrs.  Dobby  not  to  be  uneasy,  that  it  could  not 
be  established,  and  therefore  all  the  property  was 
hers.  The  old  lady's  hope  was  thus  realized,  and 
she  was  enabled  to  send  her  boy,  her  dear  boy,  to 
college.  In  selecting  a  college  for  her  son,  the 
mother  overlooked  the  many  institutions  of  learning 
in  her  own  State  and  the  South,  and  blinded  by  that 
false  idea  of  northern  superiority  of  training  the 
mind,  determined  to  send  him  to  that  pure  and  puri 
tanical  section.  For  this  act,  she  knew  not  how 
much  she  was  to  balme ;  she  thought  not  of  the  con 
sequences  it  might  lead  to;  she  considered  not  the 
traits  of  northern  character;  she  reflected  not  that 
rotten  and  vicious  principles  in  religion,  morals  and 
politics,  would  there  be  instilled  in  the  youth's  mind. 
Oh  no,  like  too  many  Virginia  parents,  her  too  exces 
sive  fondness  for  her  son  led  her  to  err;  she  wanted 
him  to  get  a  northern  sheepskin,  it  would  be  worth 
a  dozen  from  Virginia,  why  we  know  not,  unless  it 
be  on  account  of  the  extras  there  thrown  in,  for 
which  nothing  is  charged  beyond  the  ordinary  and 


20      .  LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

legitimate  course  of  college  education,  such  as  an 
occasional  essay  on  free  society  or  the  higher  law 
doctrine,  a  lecture  on  that  code  of  morals,  which 
makes  it  right  in  a  Yankee,  with  humanity  all  oo/ini! 
out  at  his  fingers  ends,  to  lay  his  nasty  clutches  on  a 
southern  slave  and  steal  him  from  his  master,  or  else 
a  lesson  or  two  in  the  less  intellectual  but  more  prac 
tical  and  useful  art  in  feats  of  Yankee  legerdemain, 
by  which  small  swaps  and  cute  trades  are  made — 
together  with  the  knowledge  which  enables  the  pos 
sessor  thereof  to  perform  all  kinds  of  tricks  and  short 
cuts  which  will  bring  money  into  his  pocket,  and 
make  him  a  sharp,  shrewd,  clever  chap. 

If  Mrs.  Dobby  was  to  blame  for  sending  her  son 
to  a  northern  college  at  her  time,  parents'are  doubly 
to  blame  for  doing  likewise  now.  The  times  have 
not  improved  there,  on  the  contrary,  fanaticism  and 
all  the  isms  are  fearfully  on  the  increase — parents 
should  remember,  that  what  the  heart  of  the  human 
body  is  to  the  body,  Virginia  is  to  the  Union.  Vir 
ginia  is  the  heart  of  the  Union,  and  each  pulsation 
of  this  great  heart  sends  the  warm  and  gushing  life's 
blood  to  all  the  extremities  of  the  nation.  This 
heart  has  never  yet  throbbed  but  for  the  country's 
good,  and  proudly  it  beats — beats — beats,  keeping 
time  harmoniously  with  the  nation's  onward  march. 
How  important  is  it  then  that  Virginia,  in  all  essen 
tials,  in  tone,  character,  sentiments,  &c.,  should  con 
tinue  as  moulded  by  the  master-spirits  of  republican 
liberty,  such  as  Washington,  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madi 
son,  &c.  And  how  is  this  high  tone  to  be  preserved  ? 
How  is  this  heart  to  continue  in  its  vigorous  and 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA.          21 

healthy  action  ?  By  educating  Virginia's  sons  at 
home.  Send  them  not  where  the  febrile  symptoms 
of  that  feverish  mass  of  mad-caps  may  be  contracted, 
and  thus  be  transmitted  to  this  great  heart  of  the 
Union,  and  its  healthy  action  destroyed. 

Bobby,  the  youth,  was  highly  delighted  with  the 
prospect  of  a  three  years'  sojourn  at  a  northern  col 
lege,  from  which  he  intended  to  return  a  head  and 
shoulders  above  any  of  his  acquaintances  who  only 
had  a  common  Virginia  education.  He  stood  well 
in  his  class,  and  at  the  end  of  his  course  passed  a 
creditable  examination,  and  then  left  its  walls  to  bat 
tle  with  the  world  in  the  great  fight  for  its  honors 
and  emoluments.  While  there  was  united  in  his 
character  most  of  the  elements  necessary  for  a  suc 
cessful  fight  —  he  was  nevertheless  wanting  in  the 
most  important,  viz.,  firmness  of  character;  every 
wind  that  blew  changed  his  purposes ;  his  opinions 
of  to-day  would  hardly  be  his  opinions  of  to-morrow ; 
his  education  was  doubtless  the  cause  of  this,  as  he 
belonged  to  the  firmest  of  families  both  sides  of  the 
house,  and  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  place 
he  received  his  education,  it  is  not  at  all  surprising, 
that  in  the  spring  of  1854,  while  on  a  visit  to  some 
of  his  northern  friends,  that  he  should  be  induced  to 
be  duly  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  the  secret 
order  of  Know  Nothings.  How  long  he  remained 
a  member,  and  some  of  his  doings  while  in  fellowship 
with  that  foul  abomination,  rotten  as  it  is,  and  stink 
ing  of  fanaticism  and  all  kinds  of  unholy  and  false 
purposes,  will  be  recorded  in  these  pages. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  IL 

HAVING  thus  introduced  Mr.  Dobby  to  tlie  reader, 
we  will  next  bring  some  of  his  companions  upon 
the  stage,  and  first,  out  of  seniority,  if  not  impor 
tance,  we  beg  to  introduce  old  Captain  Swyburg. 
How  he  obtained  the  title  of  Captain,  whether  as  a 
commander  of  a  "  Cornstalk  Company"  of  "  Virginia 
militia  in  time  of  peace,"  or  served  his  country  in 
bloody  wars  is  not  known;  though  if  the  matter 
were  worthy  of  investigation,  if  the  latter,  his  name 
might  be  found  on  the  roll  of  honor  among  the  far 
back  musty  records  of  the  country,  to  which  refer 
ence  is  made  if  any  reader  feels  sufficient  interest  to 
conduct  the  research.  One  thing  is  certain,  that 
when  any  one  in  his  presence  would  make  any 
inquiry  as  to  the  circumstance  of  the  lower  ex 
tremity  of  his  left  ear  being  cropped  off,  the  old 
fellow  would  invariably  give  a  knowing  wink,  then 
a  grunt — a  genteel,  not  a  swinish  grunt — then  a 
whe — whe — whist,  as  if  in  imitation  of  a  rifle  ball 
in  motion,  and  this  was  all  the  answer  he  was  ever 
known  to  return.  Many  were  the  surmises  as  to 
how  it  happened.  Some  said  it  was  the  natural 
terminus  of  his  left  ear ;  a  few  said  it  was  doubtless 
the  work  of  the  battle  ball ;  and  the  question  would 
be  raised  and  discussed,  whether,  from  the  appear 
ance  of  the  wound,  he  was  facing  the  enemy,  or 
had  turned  his  course  when  the  ball  took  effect 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIEGINIA.         23 

In  one  thing  all  concurred:  it  must  have  been 
either  a  front  or  rear,  and  not  a  side  shot,  for,  in 
that  event,  something  more  than  the  surplus  portion 
of  the  ear  would  have  been  carried  away.  Others 
there  were  that  said  it  was  neither  natural  nor  the 
effect  of  powder  and  ball,  but  declared  that  it  was 
simply  the  mark  of  his  parents,  who  were  blessed 
with  such  a  multitude  of  responsibilities,  that  all 
they  could  do  was  to  turn  them  out  upon  the  world, 
and  the  crop  was  adopted  as  a  mark  of  recognition 
should  they  meet  with  them  again.  The  true  secret, 
however,  of  the  mysterious  crop  is  known  to  us, 
and  will  be  revealed  in  a  subsequent  page. 

Captain  Swyburg,  or,  as  he  was  sometimes  called, 
Captain  Swy,  was  born,  and  lived  a  large  portion  of 
his  life,  in  a  small  country  town.  Well,  everybody 
knows  that  there  is  found  in  every  town,  at  least 
one  great  man,  the  ruling  spirit,  the  great  lion,  the 
king  of  all  the  villagers.  In  their  opinion  he  never 
opens  his  mouth  but  oracles  issue  therefrom;  if 
foolishness  be  his  utterings,  it  is  called  wisdom ;  if 
wrong  govern  his  actions,  it  is  called  right ;  he  is 
the  paragon  of  wisdom  and  justice ;  he  is  perfection. 
In  the  village  in  which  the  Captain  lived,  it  was 
his  happy  lot  to  be  that  lucky  individual.  In  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  regulations  of  the  town 
he  was  consulted.  No  improvement,  great  or  small, 
from  the  laying  of  a  curb-stone  to  the  building  of 
a  church,  could  be  made  in  the  burgh  before  his 
opinion  was  asked  and  obtained  as  to  the  best  and 
most  economical  plan.  All  the  guardians  of  the 
rising  generation,  the  teachers  of  the  schools,  had 


24          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

to  be  examined  and  endorsed  by  him  before  they 
stood  the  remotest  possibility  of  procuring  the  first 
little  urchin  for  a  scholar.  If  Squire  Spangler's 
bull  trespassed  upon  neighbor  Brown's  field,  the 
animal  was  arraigned  before  him,  and  if  his  judg 
ment  was  that  the  animal  should  be  doomed  to  wear 
the  yoke,  one  was  forthwith  fitted  to  his  neck ;  or 
if  his  judgment  was  death,  it  was  executed,  although 
the  animal  was  a  first-rate  oxen,  but  would  have 
made  much  better  beef  had  he  trespassed  longer 
upon  Mr.  Brown's  field. 

He  stood  god-father  for  half  the  children  of  the 
town,  the  other  half  were  named  after  him.  Was 
there  ever  a  man  proof  against  such  treatment, 
such  deference,  such  homage  ?  That  spark  or 
principle  in  human  nature,  however  weak  in  youth, 
will,  and  must  inevitably,  when  subjected  to  such 
treatment,  grow — grow,  it  is  true,  little  by  little — 
till,  in  time,  the  fruit  will  ripen  and  burst  forth 
into  full  bloom,  odious  vanity.  So  it  was  that 
however  _  beautifully  modesty  might  have  adorned 
the  Captain  in  his  better  days  of  youth,  in  riper 
age  its  last  delicate  tinge  had  faded  away,  and  in  its 
place  the  repelling  presence  of  vanity  displayed  its 
brazen  face,  and  made  the  old  man  quite  a  stuck  up 
concern,  very  highly  pleased  with  his  own  preten 
sions,  with  an  air  and  look  which  seemed  to  say, 
old  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  a  fool  to  Captain 
Swyburg.  His  dictatorial  spirit  was  insufferable,  his 
voice  of  request  had  lost  its  tone  of  entreaty,  and 
sounded  like  peremptory  command. 

Such  was  the  Captain  when  the  present  federal 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.          25 

administration  came  into  power.  Getting  old,  and 
having,  as  he  thought,  rendered  good  service  to 
the  party,  so  he  gathered  up  a  package  of  recom 
mendations — not  that  he  thought  he  needed  them — and 
forthwith  proceeded  to  Washington  to  have  a 
reckoning  with  the  Chief  Magistrate  for  wages 
due  for  party  services,  in  the  shape  of  a  good  snug 
office ;  with  great  dismay  and  astonishment  he  read 
intelligence  of  the  failure  of  his  application,  and  with 
a  rush  downward  went  the  mercury  of  the  ther 
mometer  which  regulated  and  showed  the  variable 
ness  of  his  vanity,  until  it  reached  for  once  in  the 
space  of  many  years  the  freezing  point ;  and  he 
returned  home  rebuked  in  spirit,  with  the  lamentable 
conviction  forced  upon  his  mind,  that  after  years  of 
faith  in  his  own  importance,  he  was  not  such  a 
great  man  after  all.  Nor  did  his  mercury  begin 
to  rise  again  until  his  old  companions  at  home 
discussed  with  him  the  great  grievance  which  had 
been  inflicted  upon  him,  the  ingratitude  of  the 
Executive,  &c.,  when  it  soon  rushed  up  to  fever 
heat.  Had  it  not  been  for  this  failure  of  the 
Captain's,  he  would  never  have  been  found  at  a 
late  hour  anxiously  awaiting  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Bob  Dobby,  the  pioneer  in  Virginia  in  the  formation 
of  secret  political  societies.  /• 
3 


26          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  III. 

WITH  the  foregoing  brief  outline  of  Captain 
Swyburg's  character,  we  must  dismiss  him  for  the 
present,  and  bring  forward  a  hardly  less  important 
personage,  who,  it  will  be  seen,  acted  no  inconsidera 
ble  part  in  the  times  of  which  this  veritable  history 
is  a  faithful  chronicle.  This  gentleman  was  the 
bearer  of  the  slightly  grandiloquent  name  of  Jno. 
James  Gustavus  Adolphus  Fox.  He  was  reputed 
to  be  a  man  of  good  sense,  managed  his  own  affairs 
with  judgment,  and  was  known  by  all  to  be  a 
thriving  man.  It  is  a  little  singular  that  a  man  of 
such  excellent  judgment  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  speculation, 
should  be  so  completely  at  fault  in  his  political 
opinions. 

Mr.  Fox  was,  beyond  all  manner  of  dispute,  a  man 
of  decided  business  qualifications ;  were  he  to  lay  a 
wager  on  the  rise  or  fall  of  any  particular  commodity 
of  merchandise,  it  might  be  set  down  as  almost  a 
fixed  fact  that  he  would  win ;  but  were  he  to  stake 
his  thousands  on  an  election,  he  would  most  certainly 
lose;  any  one  would  be  perfectly  safe  to  take  up 
any  proposition  from  him  on  an  election  bet,  without 
the  least  amendment,  for  he  could  not  help  but  fix 
it  so  that  he  himself  would  be  loser. 

His  father  belonged  to  the  old  Federal  party,  and 
very  naturally  the  young  Jno.  James  Gustavus 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.          27 

Adolphus  imbibed  some  very  bad  ideas  and  notions. 
His  father  many  years  back,  set  him  to  going  wrong, 
and  the  year  185i  finds  him  still  mystified,  and  in 
great  error,  far  out  of  the  broad  track  that  Republi 
cans  ought  to  follow.  By  whatever  name  the  party 
that  has  opposed  the  great  Republican  party  of  the 
country  has  been  called,  he  has  been  invariably  a 
member  of  it.  He  has  seen  the  principles,  as  they 
are  called,  of  that  party,  one  by  one  give  away,  and 
thousands  of  his  countrymen  go  down  with  them, 
but  he  would  confidently  expect  them  to  rise  again 
and,  probably,  away  off  yonder,  in  the  distance,  after 
awhile,  he  would  discover  something  floating  pre 
cariously  along.  The  patched  up  concern  would 
approach  nearer  and  nearer — he  would  know  not 
what  it  was — at  last  some  one  would  tell  him  that 
it  was  the  new  platform  his  surviving  fellow  suf 
ferers  in  the  late  downfall  had  erected.  This  would 
be  enough  for  him,  he  wanted  no  second  invitation  ; 
he  stopped  not  to  examine  the  structure,  or  the  sound 
ness  of  the  timbers;  he  inquired  not  if  the  thing 
was  constructed  for  the  purpose  of  sailing  in  Northern 
ports  or  Southern  harbors,  or  whether  the  Captain 
and  crew  were  Yankee  fillibusters.  in  search  of 
Southern  property,  or  brave  Southern  tars  on  a 
noble  cruize,  watching  the  liberties  and  guarding 
the  rights  guaranteed  to  all  by  the  constitution ;  but 
at  it  he  would  plunge  headlong,  and  never  be  satisfied 
until  he  had  planted  himself  full  upon  the  platform, 
which  he  would  vow  was  the  very  thing  he  had 
always  wanted.  He  had  been  on  a  good  many  plat 
forms  in  his  life,  and  it  may  be  a  little  singular  that 


28          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 

the  last  is  always  the  best,  ^.s  was  his  luck,  the 
old  fellow  was  swamped,  with  the  rest  of  General 
Scott's  army,  in  1852,  while  endeavoring  to  force  a 
passage  to  the  White  House,  situated  at  Washington. 
He  had  nothing  now  to  do  but  to  wait  quietly  until 
the  survivors  should  go  to  work  and  build  another 
craft  to  work  up.  Nothing  appeared  to  revive  his 
spirits  till  late  in  the  year  '54,  while  casting  his  eyes 
far  to  the  Northward,  there  loomed  up  something  all 
black  and  dark,  just  floating  in  the  misty  scenery 
which  midnight  shadow  cast  upon  the  earth.  He 
was  told  that  this  suspicious  looking  thing  was  the 
new  platform  of  the  new  party.  He  was  told  that 
its  workings  acted  like  a  charm,  that  wherever  it 
had  unfurled  its  flag  at  the  North,  that  the  De 
mocracy  was  borne  down  and  crushed  to  earth. 
'Twas  said  that  its  bearings  were  in  a  Southernly 
direction,  that  in  time  'twould  crush  the  Democracy 
of  Virginia.  This  was  just  the  thing  that  Mr.  Fox 
wanted,  and  anxiously  he  awaited  its  approach.  He 
was  warned  by  good  and  true  Southrons,  that  if  the 
foul  thing  come  to  the  land  of  Washington,  to  spurn 
it,  to  shun  it  as  he  would  the  viper's  bite.  He  was 
told  by  the  good  and  true  rnen,  that  the  leaders  of 
the  new  party  were  Abolitionists  of  the  rankest  odor, 
and  deepest  dye,  and  the  preachers  of  Christian 
politics,  that  by  them  the  liberty  of  conscience  was 
haltered  with  chains  forged  in  hell  itself;  that  around 
their  council  boards  proscription  stamped  her  galling 
heel,  and  asked  to  be  heard ;  that  infidelity  and  all 
the  isms  in  the  council's  common  caldron  boiled;  that 
oppression  after  oppression,  wrought  out  by  the 


LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.         29 

unclean  hands  of  degenerate  Americans  for  the  poor 
and  wayworn  foreigner,  welcomed  by  our  laws  to 
the  land  of  the  free,  were  continually  issuing  there 
from.  He  was  told,  too,  that  the  very  atmosphere 
itself  these  false  Americans  breathed,  was  rank  and 
rotten  with  the  breath  of  traitors.  But  all  these  fair 
and  honest  warnings  were  not  enough  to  deter  Mr. 
Jno.  James  Gustavus  Adolphus  Fox.  The  remem 
brance  of  the  good  old  days  of  good  old  Virginia 
feeling  could  throw  no  beckoning  light  from  the  past 
and  softly  woo  him  to  a  worthiness  to  be  called  her 
son.  No,  no,  he  preferred  the  mixed  company  of  the 
Northern  swarm,  to  sit  cheek  to  cheek  with  the 
Fred  Douglasses,  and  mingle  with  all  the  rabble  of 
all  the  isms,  to  him  was  greater  honor  than  to  com 
mune  in  spirit  and  in  sentiment  with  the  choicest 
specimens  of  Yirginians  bred  and  born.  What 
though  proud  Virginia's  name  be  tarnished !  What 
though  her  honor  gone !  The  new  party  promised 
to  defeat  Democracy.  This  was  his  dearest  hope ; 
this  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  all  his  patriotism, 
and  hence  it  was  that  we  found  him  in  company 
with  little  Mr.  Dobby. 


3* 


30          LIFE   AND    DEATH    OF   SAM    IX    VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTEK  IV. 

» 

WE  will  now  dismiss  Mr.  Fox  awhile,  and  intro 
duce  to  the  reader  Mr.  Americus  Winks ;  he  is 
doubtless  a  descendant  of  the  old  and  respectable 
family  of  that  name  in  Virginfa.  He  had  no  very 
strong  points  in  his  character,  except  that  he  was  a 
most  inveterate  sponger,  could  do  full  justice  to  good 
dinners  and  liberal  treats — provided,  always,  that 
some  one  footed  the  bill.  At  pic-nics  and  parties, 
pleasure  grounds  and  fox  hunts,  he  invariably  par* 
ticipated,  without  participating  in  their  getting  up. 
So  selfish  was  he  that  he  lived  to  himself,  never  took 
a  better  half  to  share  his  joys  at  home ;  so  selfish 
was  he,  that  he  talked  but  little  ;  his  thoughts  were 
very  precious  to  him,  and  he  wanted  to  enjoy  them 
all  to  himself.  In  fact,  to  such  a  grievous  extent  had 
this  master  passion  of  his  nature  grown,  that  he 
could  not  bear  to  see  even  animals  enjoy  themselves. 
Consequently,  if  any  one  had  visited  his  house  he 
would  have  found  a  demure  old  cat — long  since  for 
gotten  the  friskness  of  her  kitten-days ;  a  melancholy, 
grief-stricken  dog,  whose  countenance  said  plainly 
that  that  once  jolly  tail  of  his  had  given  the  last  wag 
in  token  of  pleasurable  emotions.  His  fowls  were 
idle,  lazy  looking  fowls,  with  not  energy  enough  to 
scratch — even  the  cock  of  the  walk,  instead  of  being 
gay  and  gallant,  like  the  generality  of  his  species, 
was  dull  and  sleepy-looking,  and  had  a  most  dolo- 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.         31 

rous  crow  ;  his  cow  looked  sad  and  care  worn  ;  his 
horse  the  very  picture  of  despair  ;  his  innocent  little 
lambs  were  never  known  to  skip  and  play. 

He  would  not  hold  in  his  possession  any  animal 
that  would  ever  exhibit  any  signs  of  pleasurable 
feelings,  and  woe  to  the  unlucky  brute  that  "felt 
his  keeping,"  his  hide  would  surely  be  off.  Nor  did 
his  selfishness  end  with  his  domestic  and  social 
feelings,  but  was  exhibited  even  in  his  opinions  on 
politics  and  governmental  policy,  hence  Ms  great 
opposition  to  foreigners.  The  inner  man  was  not 
sufficiently  burnished  over  with  the  soul-exalting 
sentiment  of  charity  to  enable  him  to  appreciate  the 
generous  motives,  the  benevolence  that  actuated  the 
illustrious  framers  of  the  constitution  in  making  this 
the  land  of  peace  and  promise  to  the  oppressed  of 
every  clime.  He  looked  upon  all  foreigners,  how 
ever  noble,  generous,  kind  and  brave,  as  unworthy 
intruders  on  American  soil ;  whose  opinions  would, 
in  time,  warp  the  great  sentiment  of  American 
liberty,  who  would  occupy  the  gladsome,  smiling 
valleys  that  belonged  to  America's  sons,  but  most  of 
all  he  feared  that  some  of  these  unwashed  sons  of 
Adam  would  encroach  upon  his  own  domains,  or  by 
settling  near  him,  by  means  of  sturdy  blows  and 
industry,  accumulate  to  their  own  behoof  some  few 
shining  dimes,  that  otherwise  might  at  last  find  a 
lodgment  in  the  deep  recesses  of  his  own  selfish 
pocket.  The  tyrant's  iron  hand,  all  dripping  with 
the  blood  of  innocence,  might  be  pursuing  the  unfor 
tunate  inhabitant'  of  a  distant  country — misery  and 
oppression  might  meet  him  at  every  turn — famine, 


32          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

gaunt  and  pale,  restless  and  weak,  might  stare  him 
in  the  face,  but  to  this  poor  man,  noble  Americas 
would  say,  battle  where  you  are  with  the  circum 
stances  destiny  has  thrown  around  you.  Assassinate 
the  tyrant,  struggle  with  oppression,  stem  the  dark 
tide  of  famine,  should  you  meet  it  bearing  011  its 
relentless  bosom  pale  corpses  to  their  last  long  home ; 
but  cast  not  your  eyes  to  America,  her  sons  are  fast 
increasing,  and  her  pure  air  of  liberty,  they  alone 
must  breathe.  Such,  reader,  was  Mr.  Americus 
Winks,  so  it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  he  should 
have  been  among  the  party  assembled,  which  you 
read  of  in  the  first  chapter. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIEGINIA.          33 


CIIAPTEK  V. 

AFTEK  what  has  been  said  about  the  Mr.  Americus 
Winks,  he  doubtless  feels  like  retiring  from  public 
gaze ;  so  he  may  hide  his  head  for  a  while,  and  we 
will  proceed  to  bring  forward  Mr.  Cincinnatus  Pate. 
He  was  the  son  of  a  good  old  parson,  who  strove 
hard  to  bring  the  boy  up  in  the  way  he  should  go. 
Many  pious  lectures,  many  severe  corrections,  were 
entirely  lost  on  the  youth.  He  began  early  in  a  wild 
reckless  career,  and  came  well  nigh  bringing  a  sad 
wreck  upon  the  good  old  man,  both  in  mind  and 
fortune.  When  in  about  his  twenty-first  year,  all 
thought  he  had  about  reached  the  end  of  his  rope ; 
that  extravagance,  folly,  and  dissipation  could  no 
further  go ;  when  a  most  wonderful  and  mysterious 
change  came  over  him.  He  ceased  his  wild  and  reck 
less  course,  cut  himself  aloof  from  all  his  vicious 
companions,  cast  the  glittering  wine-cup  from  his 
lips,  and  vowed  to  live  a  new  and  upright  life.  All 
said,  and  all  were  happy,  that  young  Cincinnatus  had 
sown  his  wild  oats,  and  the  pious  old  parson  was 
seen  to  smile  again ;  he  even  killed  the  fatted  calf, 
and  invited  his  neighbors  and  friends  to  come  and 
rejoice  with  him  over  the  son  that  was  lost  but  now 
is  found.  The  change  was  happily  a  permanent  one ; 
he  never  again  fell  back  into  the  gulf  from  which  he 
had  been  rescued.  He  lived  a  sober,  honest  life,  was 
what  the  world  called  a  respectable  man.  Although 


3-t          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

some  of  the  evil  seed  that  had  taken  root,  being 
planted  by  vicious  associates,  were  cleansed  from  hi* 
character,  yet  the  rankness,  the  luxuriant  growth  of 
some  were  so  far  advanced  towards  their  full  perfec 
tion,  that  nothing  could  eradicate.  In  a  religious 
point  of  view,  for  instance,  among  sinners,  he  was 
the  vilest  of  the  vile.  He  never  attended  church, 
believed  all  professors  of  religion  either  visionary 
fanatics  or  the  most  unmitigated  hypocrites.  Ills  too 
frequent  exhibitions  of  blasphemy  and  irreverence 
were  shocking  to  the  last  degree,  even  to  reckless, 
irreligious  men.  Had  all  the  curses  which  issued  from 
his  lips,  directed  indiscriminately  against  persons  and 
things,  rebounded  against  this  king  of  profanity,  his 
condition  would  have  been  most  pitiable.  Were  wick 
edness  a  pleasant  theme,  we  might  dwell  upon  this 
man's  character,  and  tell  of  blackness  there  as  dark  as 
Erebus ;  but,  out  of  mercy,  we  forbear,  draw  the  veil 
down  just  here,  and  ask  tjie  reader  to  excuse  the  heart, 
and  lay  the  blame  to  corrupt  associations.  Now  does  it 
not  appear  somewhat  extraordinary,  a  little  surpris 
ing  ?  does  it  not  mystify,  confound,  and  set  our  minds 
to  going  down  into  and  searching  about  among  the  od 
dities  and  inconsistencies  we  find  in  human  nature's 
workshop,  to  know  that  such  a  man  professed  to  enter 
tain  for  that  denomination  known  as  Eoman  Catholics, 
a  most  pious  fear  and  holy  horror  ?  He  was  not  a  be 
liever  in  the  Protestant  religion  nor  any  other  religion, 
yet  he  feared  that  the  Eoman  Catholic  religion  would 
eventually  annihilate  the  Protestant.  We  omitted  to 
say  that  this  man,  as  well  as  being  a  great  sinner, 
was  likewise  a  great  politician,  two  things  which 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA,          35 

seem  to  go  together  quite  naturally.  Among  other 
discourses  that  he  frequently  read  from  his  political 
text-book,  was  one  in  which  there  was  a  great 
deal  of  prating  about  patriotism  and  the  consti 
tution  ;  but  he  could  find  no  clause  in  the  federal  or 
State  constitution  putting  these  worshippers  of  the 
Eoman  church  under  the  ban  of  proscription ;  on  the 
contrary,  he  found  the  principle  that  no  man  should 
be  proscribed  on  account  of  his  religious  opinions, 
clearly  set  forth. 

He  was  a  Virginian,  yet  he  disregarded  the  teach 
ings  of  Virginia's  great  Jefferson  on  religious  tolera 
tion.  He  professed  to  be  a  historian,  yet  he  set  at 
naught  the  great  lesson  which  all  history  teaches, 
viz.:  that  to  make  a  denomination  of  religionists 
great  and  powerful,  the  surest  means  is  to  raise  the 
hue  and  cry  of  persecution ;  to  seek  to  accomplish 
by  force  and  hardship  and  proscription,  that  which 
the  gentle  voice  of  persuasion,  the  mellow  influence 
of  charity,  or  the  potent  sway  that  sound  argument 
bears  upon  its  breath.  "  Oh  no ;  use  no  persuasion, 
show  no  charity ;  away  with  arguments ;  force  down 
the  Catholics,  and  show  no  quarter.  They  are  be 
coming  too  powerful  in  our  midst ;  the  religion  of 
our  land  will  be  subverted;  our  liberties,  our  laws, 
our  country  is  in  danger.  Americans ! !  think  of  the 
temporal  power  of  the  Pope,  and  shudder."  Such 
expressions  frequently  fell  from  the  pious  lips  of  Mr. 
Cincinnatus  Pate. 

"  Think,"  said  Mr.  Pate,  "of  the  temporal  power 
of  the  Pope,  and  shudder."  Well,  reader,  think  of 
it  as  you  please,  but  if  it  brings  one  shudder  upon 


36          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

you,  your  nerves  must  surely  be  very  weak,  or  some 
thing  else  that  you  prize  still  higher  than  nerves, 
still  weaker.  It  is  a  notorious  fact,  that  this  raw 
head  and  bloody  bones,  this  bugbear,  this  monster 
of  wickedness,  the  poor  old  Pope,  whose  grisly  mien 
and  destructive  power  is  continually  rising  up  before 
the  imaginations  of  individuals  of  Mr.  Pate's  stripe, 
possesses  very  little  power  over  his  subjects  at  home; 
how  much  less,  then,  must  be  his  power  away  over 
here  across  the  Atlantic !  The  fact  is,  that  the  people 
of  the  United  States  are  in  just  as  much  danger  from 
the  power  of  the  chief  ruler  of  the  most  intelligent 
race  of  Baboons  that  inhabit  the  earth,  as  they  are 
from  the  Pope  of  Borne.  Indeed,  were  his  majesty 
of  the  Baboon  nation  to  declare  war  against  us,  and 
land  his  hairy  troops  on  our  shores,  they  might  do 
some  little  scratching  and  biting,  and  frighten  some 
few  women  and  children,  which  would  be,  we  dare 
say,  more  than  the  Pope's  army  could  do.  "We  don't 
fear  the  Pope  in  Virginia,  Mr.  Pate — so  you  had 
better  get  some  more  popular  hobby.  Nor  do  you, 
you  sinner;  you  only  hoped  'twould  change  the 
political  wind  in  Virginia,  which  always  blows  from 
the  same  southeruly  direction  on  election  days ;  and 
for  this  reason  you  were  among  Mr.  Dobby's  party, 
in  the  dark  room,  on  the  dark  night. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.         37 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HAVING  now  introduced  these  several  worthies,  we 
will  return  to  the  meeting  spoken  of  in  the  first  chap 
ter.  It  appears  that  the  course  of  proceeding  on  this 
occasion  was  somewhat  irregular,  but  the  northern 
Know  Nothings  were  extremely  desirous  of  extend 
ing  their  principles  into  Virginia  and  the  South. 
Therefore,  as  Mr.  Dobby  was  extensively  known  at 
the  North,  a  dispensation  was  granted  him,  and  he 
was  allowed  to  test  this  matter  in  his  State,  by 
sounding  such  individuals  as  he  might  think  would 
be  likely  to  fall  into  his  views,  and  give  in  their 
adhesion  to  the  party,  by  reading  to  them  the  con 
stitution  of  the  order.  Mr.  Dobby  on  receiving  this 
dispensation,  immediately  returned  to  his  southern 
home,  and  on  conference  with  the  gentlemen  to 
which  the  reader  has  been  introduced,  found  them 
kindly  disposed  towards  the  adoption  of  his  creed, 
he  accordingly  fixed  upon  a  time  and  place  for  a 
meeting,  on  which  occasion  they  would  read  over  the 
ritual,  and  discuss  it  among  themselves.  They  met. 
at  the  time  and  place  before  stated. 

Mr.  Dobby  opened  business  with  a  speech.  "  Fel 
low-citizens,"  said  he,  "  we  have  assembled  together 
under  no  ordinary  circumstances;  we  come  together 
for  the  purpose  of  uniting  ourselves  as  a  band  of 
brothers,  in  a  cause  worthy  of  the  best  patriots  onr 
country  can  boast  of;  we  are  the  Sons  of  the  Sires  of 

4 


88         LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

'76;  we  are  proud  of  our  country,  her  laws,  her  fame, 
her  liberty  and  her  power ;  of  these  her  blessings  we 
are  jealous,  and  to  guard  them  must  be  the  dearest 
object  of  our  lives.  Times  have  changed,  and  are 
changing ;  but,  companions,  the  greatest  event  of  the 
changing  times,  the  greatest  change  of  parties,  was 
the  recent  glorious  organization,  formed  by  our  true 
and  conservative  brethren  of  the  northern  States,  to 
which  Order  I  esteem  myself  most  happy  to  belong, 
particularly  as  I  find  that  I  have  united  myself  with 
that  Order  at  a  time  when  it  is  in  my  power  to  ren 
der  some  service  to.  that  party,  and  thereby  a  service 
to  my  country.  I  have  met  you  here  to-night,  my 
brothers,  for  I  can  already  greet  you  by  that  most 
endearing  appellation,  for  the  purpose  of  explaining 
to  you  the  objects  of  this  organization,  that  I  may 
obtain  your  co-operation.  I  have  selected  you  from 
my  fellow-citizens  of  this  city,  believing  that  to  you 
I  can  commit  the  secrets  of  the  Order,  and  that  you 
will  prove  yourselves  the  most  gallant  of  the  Ameri 
can  soldiers  in  the  contest  anticipated  in  our  State. 
It  has  been  decided,  and  I  think  wisely,  by  our 
northern  friends,  that  here  as  there,  in  future  politi 
cal  contests,  the  name  of  Whig  is  to  be  abandonee!, 
and  the  more  taking  name  of  the  Supreme  Order  of 
the  Star  Spangled  Banner  adopted.  This,  then,  is  the 
prime  object  of  the  organization — to  defeat  demo 
cracy,  or  more  properly,  locofocoism.  To  do  this, 
it  was,  important  that  we  should  adopt  certain  princi 
ples,  such  as  would  admit  of  appeal  to  the  prejudices 
of  our  native  born  population  and  protestants;  the 
most  important  is  foreign  immigration  to  this  coun- 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIKGINIA.         39 

try,  and  the  Eoman  Catholic  question.     Many  of  the 
members  of  this  Order  are  conscientiously  opposed  to 
foreigners  and  Catholics  having  a  voice  in  our  govern 
ment;  there  are  many  others  though  who  entertain 
contrary  opinions,  who  do  not  wish  to  interfere  with 
the  privileges  of  foreigners  or  Catholics,  as  now  en 
joyed  ;    but   the   principles   of  the  Order  make   it 
obligatory  upon  all  who  join,  that  whatever  may  be 
their  private  opinions  on  these  two  subjects,  they 
must  at  least  feign  opposition  to  both  the  foreigners 
and  Catholics;  this  rule  is  adopted  for  the  good  of 
the  cause ;  those  who  act  conscientiously,  I  would 
remark,  are  said  to  make  the  best  Americans ;  I  would 
therefore  appeal  to  you  all  to  try  and  school  your 
rninds  in  this  direction;  it  is  an  easy  matter  for  us 
all  to  give  our  feelings  any  particular  direction  which 
our  judgment  may  point  out  as  expedient.   The  mind 
is  most  obedient  to  our  will,  our  will  to  our  interest ; 
bring  }^burselves  to  believe  then,  that  it  is  the  inte 
rest  of  our  party  to  oppose  Catholics  and  foreigners, 
and  depend  upon  it,  that  you  will  soon  be  enabled  to 
act  conscientiously  in  the  matter.     Remember  .that 
we  have  a  subtle,  and  hitherto  invincible  enemy  to 
conquer  in  Virginia;   buckle  on  the  bright  armor 
then,  that  Sam  has  prepared  for  all  his  gallant  sol 
diers,  and  rest  assured  the  sceptre  will  pass  from  the 
dominant  party,  and  a  day  of  better  things  will  dawn 
in  the  old  dominion.     My  friends,  in  conclusion,  let 
me  congratulate  you  upon  meeting  me  so  promptly 
this  night;  your  fellow-citizens  all  around,  are  ere 
this  asleep,  while  you,  whom  I  may  most  appropri 
ately  style  a  band  of  patriots,  have  sacrificed  the 


40          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

pleasures  of  ease  and  comfort,  and  met  together  in 
the  silent  moments  of  the  midnight  hour  to  consult, 
and  devise  means  for  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of 
your  beloved  land. 

"  I  will  now,  gentlemen,  read  to  you  the  ritual,  by 
laws,  &e.,  of  this  organization.  This  is  altogether 
unusual,  a  regular  course  of  initiation  has  invariably 
been  adopted;  but  as  my  northern  friends  were  so 
eager  to  set  the  ball  in  motion  in  our  State,  and 
placing  entire  confidence  in  my  ability  to  conduct 
harmless  an  irregular  procedure,  they  granted  me 
the  privilege.  I  doubt  not  for  an  instant;  the  high 
honour  and  integrity  of  each  of  you,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  however,  you  must  pardon  the  necessity 
of  placing  you,  and  each  of  you  upon  that  honour. 
If  then,  as  I  read,  there  be  any  objectionable  feature, 
you  will  please  state  the  objection,  and  we  will  argue 
the  point.  Should  either  of  you,  on  hearing  me  to 
the  end,  feel  that  you  cannot  unite  with  us  in  our 
noble  work,  with  your  whole  soul,  you  will  be  at 
liberty  to  retire  from  among  us,  with  this  proviso 
only,  that  you  will  never  reveal  in  any  manner  any 
thing  you  may  hear  from  me  this  night."  To  this 
each  assented,  and  Mr.  Dobby  proceeded  to  read  the 
articles,  as  recorded  in  the  Know  Nothing  Bible. 
During  the  reading  of  this  very  delectable  specimen 
of  Buntline  composition,  the  most  profound  silence 
was  maintained.  "Brothers,"  said  Mr.  Dobby,  "you 
have  now  heard  me  to  the  end;  is  there  aught  that 
does  not  commend  itself  to  the  approval  of  your 
judgment?"  A  unanimous  "No,"  was  the  only  re 
sponse  from  that  interesting  group  of  interesting 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.         41 

gentlemen.  Mr.  Dobby  continuing,  "It  only  remains 
then,  for  me  to  administer  the  several  oaths  you  have 
heard  read,  place  yourselves  in  the  posture  prescribed 
for  receiving  them."  This  request  was  complied  with, 
the  oaths  were  administered,  and  old  Capt.  Swyburg, 
Mr.  Jno.  James  Gustavus  Adolphus  Fox,  Mr.  Ameri- 
cus  Winks,  Mr.  Cincinnatus  Pate,  and  several  others 
were  declared  members  of  the  "  Supreme  Order  of  the 
Star  Spangled  Banner? 

Mr.  Fox  makes  a  few  remarks,  and  the  meeting 
adjourns.  "  Companions,"  said  Mr.  Fox,  "  how 
pressingly  do  we  feel  the  giant  weight  of  gratitude 
now  bearing  down  upon  us,  we  owe  that  great 
and  good  man  Dobby;  he  is  present,  but  he  must 
excuse  my  remarks.  I  am  called  a  wordy  man, 
but  words  fail  to  express  half  I  feel  towards  this 
great  pioneer  in  the  patriotic  organization,  into  the 
virtuous  mysteries  of  which  he  has  just  inducted 
us.  How  grand  the  scheme  for  the  regeneration 
and  conversion  of  this  land  from  the  darkness  of 
democracy  to  the  light  and  triumph  of  the  progress 
of  the  age  !  How  perfect  the  system  I  How  thorough 
and  impregnable  the  organization !  I  have  been 
on  many  platforms  in  my  day.  The  party  to  which 
I  have  heretofore  belonged,  may  be  called  the 
party  of  platforms.  They  have  been  compelled  to 
shift  and  change  their  sails  to  catch  the  popular 
breeze,  but  adverse  winds  have  invariably  blown 
them  to  that  general  retreat  for  all  collapsed 
politicians:  I  allude  to  '  Salt  River?  But,  my 
friends,  the  ship  on  which  Mr.  Dobby  has  this 
night  entered  us,  the  passage  money  of  which 

4* 


42          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

voyage  lie  received  in  the  spontaneous  oaths  of 
willing  freemen,  will  steer  clear  of  the  shoals  and 
quicksands  of  that  dirty  little  river,  and  land  us 
in  fat  offices,  our  Governor  in  Richmond,  our 
President  in  Washington.  Or,  to  change  the 
figure,  I  would  compare  this  great  organization 
to  a  great  national  chariot,  the  wheels  of  which 
are  all  burnished  over  with  the  true  steel  of 
patriotism,  the  body  is  made  of  the  most  choice 
material,  selected  from  that  great  forest  of  imper 
ishable  principles  bequeathed  to  us  by  the  immortal 
fathers  of  the  Republic.  This  material  is  all  bolted 
and  strongly  braced  with,  what  cannot  be  broken, 
the  willing  oaths  of  Americans.  The  lanterns 
brightly  shine  with  the  light  and  beauty  of  liberty. 
The  great  Sam  mounts  the  strong  box  and  takes 
the  reins;  he  cracks  his  whip,  and  it  smacks  more 
of  mercy  than  of  threat.  The  steed  is  the  mighty 
power  of  popular  opinion,  restive  and  panting  to  be 
off.  My  friends,  grand  and  glorious  will  be  Sam's 
drive  over  the  beautiful  hills,  and  through  the 
plains  of  Old  Virginia.  At  each  halting  point,  and 
at  every  turn,  he  will  take  up  passengers,  and  the 
cry  will  be,  '  still  they  come.'  Salt  River  is  to  be 
crossed,  but  the  experienced  and  skilful  driver, 
Sam,  holds  the  reins,  so  fear  not,  he  will  cross 
over  on  a  bridge  made  of  defunct  carcasses  of 
Democrats,  and  on  the  24th  of  May,  '55,  haul  up 
at  Richmond,  and  all  hands  of  us  be  treated  to 
the  good  and  fat  things  from  the  rich  granary  of 
party.  Three  cheers  for  Mr.  Dobby  and  our  new 
party  !"  The  three  cheers  were  given.  When  at 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.         43 

this  juncture,  and  greatly  to  their  surprise  and 
confusion,  a  side  door,  the  existence  of  which  none 
were  aware  of,  opened,  and  in  walked  a  spare 
figure  in  his  night  dress,  with  his  piercing  eye 
glancing  searchingly  at  the  actors  in  the  scene 
before  him.  On  the  sudden  appearance  of  this 
mysterious  individual,  Mr.  Dobby  arose  with  all 
the  dignity  it  was  possible  for  a  little  man  to 
assume,  and  demande:!,  "  Why  this  untimely 
intrusion  upon  their  privacy  ?"  It  appears  that 
the  room  occupied  by  the  party  of  Dobby  was 
a  retired  room  in  the  rear  of  a  hotel,  where  he  had 
been  assured  by  the  money-loving  landlord  that 
he  would  be  safe  from  intrusion ;  but  the  mysterious 
individual  arrived  late,  and  all  the  other  rooms 
being  occupied,  he  had  to  be  conducted  to  the 
one  adjoining  Mr.  Bobby's.  "I  came,"  said  the 
individual  addressed,  "to  cry  shame  upon  the 
proceedings  which  circumstances  have  ordained 
that  should  be  revealed  to  me  this  night.  I  was 
quietly  taking  my  rest,  when  footsteps  arrested 
my  attention  in  this  room;  after  a  while  voices 
were  heard;  my  curiosity  was  aroused — my  first 
surmise  was,  that  it  was  a  party  of  sportsmen, 
who  had  assembled  for  their  nightly  calling. 
But  I  was  soon  undeceived,  and  ascertained  from 
all  which  I  could  but  hear,  that  you  had  assembled 
for  the  purpose  of  introducing  in  our  beloved  State 
that  foul  and  infamous  thing  hatched  by  Northern 
abolitionists  for  their  own  selfish  and  damnable 
purposes.  Can  a  true  man  sleep,  while  treason 
is  being  plotted  in  his  very  hearing?  Ask  me 


4i          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

not  then  why  I  appear  in  your  midst ;  my  appear 
ance  is  no  intrusion.  I  come  to  warn  you  of  the 
danger  you  would  bring  upon  yourselves  and  your 
country.  Listen  to  a  word  of  advice  from  one 
who  would  do  you  no  harm.  Stop  where  you 
begin,  and  pursue  this  matter  no  further.  My 
purpose  in  the  coming  State  contest  is  to  cry  death 
and  destruction  to  the  allied  army  of  "VVhigs  and 
the  discontented  and  captious  of  all  parties,  should 
they  show  the  signs  of  increasing  strength.  What 
I  have  this  night  heard  will  aid  me  in  the  work, 
shall  I  find  it  necessary  to  engage  in  it.  I  heard 
the  last  harangue;  it  was  that  which  brought  me 
into  your  presence.  You  may  be  honest  in  your 
opinions,  but  surely  you  are  misguided.  You  know 
not  what  you  would  do.  You  consider  not  the 
consequences.  Allow  me  to  take  up  the  last  com 
parison  of  the  gentleman  who  just  addressed  you, 
and  substitute  more  fitting  similies.  He  compared 
the  organization  commonly  called  Know  Nothings, 
to  a  great  national  chariot.  On  the  contrary,  the 
thing  is,  from  its  very  birth  and  nature,  sectional 
and  must  forever  so  continue.  It  had  its  origin 
and  structure  at  a  place  where  the  restless,  nervous, 
spasmodic  character  of  the  people  is  continually 
giving  rise  to  ridiculous  and  absurd  notions  and 
t.octrines,  and  all  classed  under  the  general  head  of 
progress  and  improvement  of  the  age ;  and  this 
thing  at  the  North  is  doubtless  intended  as  a  piece 
of  intricate  machinery,  by.  which  they  expect  to 
make  encroachments  upon  the  South.  Can  it  be 
possible  that  a  section  that  is  continually  villifying, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IX  TIRGIXIA.          45 

abusing,  and  setting  at  nought,  and  trespassing 
upon  Southren  rights,  will  constitute  itself  the 
peculiar  guardian  of  Southern  interests,  and  con 
struct  political  platforms  and  organizations  that 
protect  and  maintain  those  rights  and  interests 
according  to  the  Southern  idea  of  justice.  The 
gentleman's  great  national  chariot  will,  beyond  the 
possibility  of  a  doubt,  prove  to  be  a  yankee  chariot 
simply,  and  constructed  with  the  view  and  hope  of 
crushing  us  at  the  South;  it  is  sectional,  and  must 
so  continue.  The  wheels,  he  said,  were  burnished 
over  with  the  true  steel  of  patriotism;  he  could 
more  appropriately  have  said,  their  tires  were 
moulded  or  forged  in  the  hot  furnace  of  abolition 
traitors.  The  body,  he  said,  was  made  of  material 
selected  from  the  great  forest  of  imperishable  prin 
ciples  bequeathed  to  us  by  the  fathers,  of  the 
Eepublic ;  he  could  with  more  propriety  have  said 
that  it  was  made  of  a  rotten  medley  of  Yankee 
notions,  and  would  soon  fall  to  pieces,  however 
violent  be  the  oaths  extracted  in  its  support.  The 
lanterns,  he  said,  brightly  shone  with  the  light  and 
beauty  of  liberty ;  he  could  with  more  truth  have 
saidy  they  dimly  shine,  the  better  to  aid  in  the 
work  of  persecution.  The  great  Sam  mounts  the 
strong  box,  and  takes  the  reins :  he  should  have 
said,  the  insignificant  little  Sam  is  carefully  set 
upon  the  weak  box,  and  timidly  takes  hold  of  the 
lines.  He  cracks  his  whip,  and  it  smacks  more 
of  mercy  than  of  threat;  he  could  have  said,  he 
cracks  his  whip,  and  it  smacks  more  of  proscription 
and  persecution  than  it  does  of  mercy.  The  steed, 


46          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

said  he,  was  the  mighty  power  of  public  opinion. 
Why  did  he  not  say  that  the  motive  power  of  the 
Know  Nothing  car  was  the  spoils  of  office  glittering 
in  the  future;  that  the  followers  were  a  pack  of 
hungry  asses  after  oats?  The  delightful  drive  over 
Virginia,  which  he  spoke  of,  will  doubtless  prove 
to  be  a  grand  pleasure  excursion  of  the  invincible 
Democracy.  And  the  bridge  over  Salt  Eiver, 
which  he  constructed  of  dead  Democrats,  will 
surely  prove  to  be  a  bridge  of  Know  Nothings, 
over  which  the  Democracy  will  once  more  proudly 
march.  Remember  my  prediction."  Having  thus 
spoken,  he  retired  at  the  door  through  which  he 
entered,  leaving  the  gentlemen  at  no  little  loss 
to  guess  who,  or  what  he  was.  It  was  then  agreed 
among  the  party  that  on  the  same  night  of  the 
next  week  they  would  hold  another  meeting,  when 
they  would  form  plans  for  conducting  their 
operations  in  Virginia. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.          47 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Ox  the  expiration  of  the  week,  they  met  again  at 
the  appointed  hour  and  place.  Old  Captain  Swyburg 
came  prepared  with  screws  and  bolts,  and  before  the 
council  opened,  he  secured  the  door  at  which  the 
intruder  of  the  previous  meeting  had  entered.  The 
most  diligent  inquiry  of  each  of  the  gentlemen  had 
failed  to  procure  any  satisfactory  information  as  to 
who  the  stranger  was.  The  landlord  could  give  no 
information  whatever,  as  to  where  he  came  from  or 
whither  going;  all  that  he  knew  was,  that  he  was  a 
traveler,  that  he  came  to  the  city  by  a  certain  mail 
route,  and  that  he  only  spent  the  night  in  his  house, 
and  left  early  in  the  morning.  This  information, 
indefinite  as  it  was,  gave  some  little  comfort  to  the 
gentlemen.  They  greatly  feared  that  he  would  remain 
in  their  midst,  and  give  them  no  little  trouble;  so 
they  concluded  that  he  was  only  a  traveler,  and  by 
that  time  far  out  of  their  way.  In  all  probability,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Order  himself;  he  might  have 
been  a  wag  of  a  fellow,  fond  of  a,  joke — and  they 
doubted  not  that  he  had  enjoyed  the  one  he  had  prac 
tised  upon  them  exceedingly.  This  was  what  Mr. 
Dobby  and  his  companions  hoped,  and  the  hope  was 
doubtless  father  to  the  conclusion. 

They  now  form  plans  for  conducting  the  campaign 
in  the  State.  Mr.  Americus  Winks,  after  a  week's 
reflection,  and  having  read  the  most  highly- wrought 


48          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

accounts  of  overwhelming  triumphs  at  the  North, 
became  amazingly  enthusiastic.  So  to  him  and  his 
enthusiasm  the  Order  was  indebted,  on  that  occasion, 
for  one  of  the  most  ripping,  ranting,  thundering, 
storming,  blasting  speeches  that  ever  fell  from  the  lips 
of  man.  "  He  had  belonged  all  his  life  to  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  therefore"  said  "  he  could  tell  of  all  their 
rascality  and  ingratitude."  "When  he  used  the  word 
ingratitude,  he  doubtless  thought  of  the  failure  of  his 
application  for  a  certain  office.  But  we  cannot  follow 
him  through  his  speech.  He  said,  in  conclusion, 
"  that  having  met  together  for  taking  some  initiative 
steps  towards  organization  for  the  canvass,  he  begged 
to  introduce  a  matter  of  prime  consideration  to  the 
welfare  and  success  of  the  Order.  It  would  be  admit 
ted  by  all  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  accomplish 
anything  without  a  press.  He  therefore  proposed  that 
a  committee  be  appointed  to  wait  upon  that  estimable 
and  talented  editor,  Mr.  Peter  Willing  Turner,  who, 
if  approached  cautiously  and  delicately,  with  just 
enough  soft  sawder  to  show  him  that  it  would  be  to 
his  interest  to  strike  his  old  Whig  flag,  and  raise  in 
its  stead  the  true  American  banner,  that  Mr.  Turner 
would  doubtless  give  in  his  adhesion  to  our  faith,  and 
his  talents,  and  his  press,  for  the  propagation  of  the 
immutable  principles  of  our  party.  If,  however,  the 
committee  fail  in  their  mission  to  Mr.  Turner,  that  we 
pledge  ourselves  in  sufficient  amount  to  procure  all 
proper  materials,  and  establish  an  organ,  to  be  con 
ducted  by  whichever  one  of  us  whose  talents  may 
best  qualify  him  for  the  case."  It  may  be  remarked 
that  Mr.  Winks  was  out  of  business,  and  who  knows 


LIFE  AND   DEATH  OF   SAM  ~IN   VIRGINIA.          49 

but  that  lie  thought  that  by  this  means  he  might  find 
himself  established  at  the  very  head  water  of  influ 
ence,  with  a  goose-quill  behind  his  ear.  We  do  not 
make  the  charge,  but  simply  ask,  might  he  not,  by 
the  proposition,  render  himself  liable  to  the  charge  of 
self-interest  ?  This  proposition  was  warmly  seconded 
by  all,  so  Captain  Swyburg  and  Mr.  Americus  Winks 
were  appointed  the  committee  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Peter 
Willing  Turner,  and  report  to  the  next  meeting.  Mr. 
Dobby  next  begged  to  offer  a  few  rules  of  action. 
First,  he  considered  it  highly  important,  and  should 
be  regarded  in  Virginia  a  fundamental  principle,  that 
the  members  of  the  party  should  strive,  by  all  possi 
ble  means,  to  make  it  appear  that  it  was  in  no  man 
ner  or  form  a  Whig  move — that,  if  there  was  a 
difference,  the  number  preponderated  in  favor  of  the 
Democrats.  If  we  ever  allow  it  to  leak  out,  by  any 
manner  or  means,  that  Whigs  are  at  the  bottom  of  the 
movement  in  Virginia,  and  my  word  for  it,  a  most 
inglorious  defeat  will  be  our  portion.  Let  us  there 
fore  pledge  ourselves  to  caution  on  this  point,  and 
whenever  we  find  a  Democrat  among  us,  we  should 
treat  him  with  the  most  distinguished  consideration. 
We  must  be  sure  of  the  politics  of  men  before  they 
can  join  us,  and  guide  our  conduct  accordingly.  We 
must  candidly  acknowledge  that  the  Whig  party  is 
dead,  and  contend  that  the  Democratic  party  is  as 
good  as  dead,  that  the  great  American  party  is  a  union 
of  the  good  and  true  men  of  both,  that  the  principles 
of  both  the  old  parties  were  to  be  run  through  the 
American  sifter,  and,  if  aught  of  good  is  discovered 
in  either,  that  it  be  retained  and  incorporated  in  the 

5 


50          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

new  creed,  otherwise  be  cast  away."  Mr.  Bobby  fur 
ther  stated,  "that  if  they  succeeded  in  getting  under 
way  with  the  newspaper,  it  would  be  highly  important 
to  have  the  basis,  principles  or  platform  of  the  party 
to  continue  in  the  issues  of  that  paper,  as  standing 
matter.  To  the  principles  of  that  platform  no  man 
can  object,  and  though  they  differed  materially  from 
the  true  principles  of  the  party,  yet  they  could  be 
used  with  powerful  effect  in  bringing  converts  into 
the  Order.  That  while  there  was  great  difference 
actually,  yet,  to  the  great  mass  of  individuals  who 
would  come  into  the  Order,  the  discrepancy  would 
not  appear.  This  discrepancy,  and  the  motive,  would 
at  once  be  suggested  to  intelligent  minds,  who,  for  the 
sake  of  union  and  success,  would  readily  acquiesce  in 
the  pious  deception;  while  to  the  common  rabble,  who 
arc  always  led  by  the  intelligent  few,  it  was  a  matter 
of  very  little  moment  whether  the  scheme  for  catching 
votes  was  ever  revealed." 

Both  of  Mr.  Dobby's  propositions  met  with  the 
warm  approval  of  the  meeting,  and  were  adopted. 
Mr.  Dobby  then  called  upon  old  Brother  Swyburg  to 
throw  out  any  suggestions  that  would  be  of  service 
to  the  party.  Captain  S.  began  by  saying  "  that  he 
was  the  most  modest  of  men,  did  not  know  that  any 
suggestions  of  his  would  avail  aught  to  the  party, 
yet  as  a  member,  a  very  humble  member,  he  did  not 
feel  at  liberty  to  refuse  his  mite.  It  was  well  known," 
he  said,  "  that  he  had  always  been  a  member  of  the 
old  Democratic  party,  that  he  had  acted  zealously 
with  that  party ;  but  now,  for  certain  reasons  best 
known  to  himself,  he  felt  called  upon,  from  a  sense 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.          51 

of  self-respect,  to  repudiate  that  party  and  its  princi 
ples.  That  so  captivating  to  his  mind  were  the 
principles  of  the  new  party,  that  he  found  himself 
already  willing  to  put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel, 
and  transfer  his  zeal  from  Locofocoism  to  the  great 
American  party.  What  he  had  to  suggest  to  his 
friends  was,  the  propriety  of  carrying  out,  in  the  con 
test,  the  lesson  taught  in  the  adage  about  '  fighting 
the  devil  with  fire.'  Democratic  success  in  Yirginia, 
he  perfectly  well  knew,  had  resulted  from  the  system 
of  bragging  and  exaggeration  (I  use,  said  he,  this 
word  in  the  place  of  one  far  more  appropriate)  that 
party  has  invariably  adopted  and  followed. 

They  have  always  managed  to  cower  and  intimi 
date  the  Old  Whig  party;  which,  by  the  day  of 
election,  would  be  powerless  and  good  for  nothing. 
But  let  us  not,  of  the  new  party,  be  out-done  at  this 
game,  let  us  adopt  their  own  mode  of  warfare,  and 
beat  them  with  weapons  of  their  own  choosing.  In 
contending  with  the  Democracy,  be  not  over  scrupu 
lous  of  speeches,  say  what  you  please;  and  the 
bigger,  the  grander  you  talk,  the  better.  In  talking 
with  Democrats,  we  should  appear  perfectly  familiar 
with  political  affairs  and  movements  in  different 
sections,  and  receive  an  occasional  letter  from  friends 
in  different  counties,  giving  us  the  most  flattering 
accounts  of  undoubted  triumphs  ;  and  if  it  be  put  to 
the  test,  we  should  fear  not,  apparently,  to  back  our 
judgment  with  our  money.  We  must  not  fail  to 
make  it  appear,  that  the  best  men,  the  old  leaders  of 
the  Locofoco  party,  have,  in  various  quarters  of  the 
state,  bolted  the  party  ticket,  and  united  under  the 


52          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

great  American  Banner ;  that  a  panic  has  seized  the 
Democratic  forces,  and  that  they  are  uniting  with  us 
by  thousands.  Let  our  lungs  be  ever  ready,  and  pre 
pared  to  cry  most  loudly,  hurrah  !  for  Sam  ;  particu 
larly  on  public  days,  our  forces  must  be  instructed 
to  applaud  vehemently  our  orators.  We  must  be  up 
and  doing.  Sam's  Boys  must  be  every  where,  at  all 
times  and  all  places,  industriously  pressing  on  the 
American  column.  The  greater  the  noise  we  make, 
the  more  we  brag  and  boast,  the  more  we  bet,  the 
surer  our  chances  for  success.  If  we  take  the  enemy 
in  Virginia,  mark  my  words,  it  must  be  by  stratagem. 
In  an  open  field  the  old  Democratic  forces  are  too  well 
drilled,  have  been  in  too  many  engagements,  to  be 
defeated  by  such  new  recruits,  as  we  can  draw  around 
us.  If  then  we  wish  or  expect  success,  stratagem 
must  be  our  study;  and  more  than  this,  we  must 
select  some  safe  place  in  which  to  deposit  our 
consciences,  and  then  take  them  to  our  keeping 
again,  after  the  election.  If  the  end  justifies  the 
means,  if  it  be  well  to  do  evil,  that  good  may  come, 
then  are  we  blameless  in  the  course  we  must  pursue 
in  this  canvass.  For  my  part,  I  am  ready  for  the 
consequences,  and  will  fight  for  Sam  under  the 
scheme  I  have  laid  down,  whatever  they  may  be. 
Not  a  dissenting  voice  was  heard  against  Captain  S's 
suggestions.  Mr.  Cincinnatus  Pate  was  next  called 
out  to  contribute  his  quota  towards  the  formation  of 
their  plans.  This  gentleman  remarked,  "  that  the 
Captain's  suggestions  had  superseded  the  necessity 
of  his  offering  any  thing  for  the  consideration  of  the 
meeting,  inasmuch  as  the  substance  of  what  he  had 


LIFE   AND  DEATH   OF  SA1I  IN   VIRGINIA.          53 

intended  saying,  had  been  so  well  said  by  Captain 
Swyburg.  There  was  one  subject,  however,  whicli 
had  been  omitted  by  others,  which  he  thought  called 
for  the  very  earnest  attention  of  the  order,  and  that 
was  the  Catholic  and  foreign  question.  The  recruits 
to  this  party,  for  the  most  part,  were  to  come  from 
the  ignorant  and  unlearned  of  the  population.  This 
population  knew  very  little  about  Catholics,  or  foreign 
immigration;  therefore,  with  the  proper  manage 
ment,  the  American  party  could  reap  a  rich  harvest 
from  this  field.  By  depicting  dreadful  horrors,  per 
petrated  by  Roman  Catholics,  it  would  be  an  easy 
matter  to  frighten  the  ignorant  and  unsuspecting, 
from  voting  with  that  party  which  tolerated  that 
religion,  and  by  administering  judicious  doses,  and 
exciting  the  prejudices  of  our  native  laboring  classes, 
mechanics,  &c.,  and  harping  upon  the  competition  of 
foreign  labor,  brought  into  their  midst,  we  can  easily 
array  the  whole  sentiment  of  this  class  in  our  favor. 
Our  chances,  my  friends,  for  a  most  perfect  triumph, 
are  as  bright  as  we  could  desire  them;  the  odds  at 
this  stage  of  the  game  are  most  decidedly  in  our 
favor.  We  have  but  to  play  the  game  judiciously, 
but  to  strike  the  chord  which  touches  the  interest  of 
the  common  rabble,  or  what  are  called  the  lower 
classes,  and  the  whole  popular  mass  will  soon  be 
vibrating  in  unison  with  the  great  American  senti 
ment.  The  field  we  have  to  work  upon  is  as  broad 
as  our  imaginative  faculties  can  reach  ;  for  when  we 
have  no  case  in  point,  illustrative  of  Catholic  charac 
ter,  we  can  give  full  scope  to  our  inventive  genius, 
and  the  bloodier  the  tragedies,  our  fancies  paint,  the 


54         LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

surer  will  be  the  conviction  they  will  carry  to  the 
minds  of  the  unlettered  and  unlearned.  From  the 
intelligent,  or  what  is  called  the  refined  portion  of  our 
population,  we  cannot  hope  or  expect  many  acquisi 
tions  to  our  ranks.  Such,  from  this  class,  as  are 
disposed  to  come  among  us,  will  do  so  without  our 
persuasion  or  coaxing.  Let  us  then  direct  our 
attention  to  the  poor  and  the  ignorant,  and  from 
these  we  will  soon  count  our  thousands.  Capt.  Swy- 
burg's  remarks  in  reference  to  the  braggadocio,  if 
you  please  to  call  it,  meets  with  my  hearty  approval, 
and  I  hope  will  be  followed.  Tell  as  many  tales  as 
we  please  on  the  rascally  old  pope  and  his  corrupt 
priests,  and  the  old  fellow  nor  his  servants,  will  ever 
hear  of  it,  nor  will  there  be  many  in  Virginia  to 
deny  our  charges.  And  upon  the  nasty  foreigners, 
let  us  put  the  opprobium  of  all  our  tongues,  as  no 
party  in  Virginia  will  dare  to  maintain  their  cause 
in  opposition  to  the  native  sentiment  of  the  country, 
now,  after  a  lapse  of  many  years,  aroused  from  its 
sleep  to  a  sense  of  danger,  bearing  like  a  mighty 
tornado  all  before  it  from  north  to  south.  The  power 
of  this  mighty  sentiment  will  silence  the  batteries  of 
the  opposition.  They  would  not  risk  the  storm  of 
indignation,  the  odium  of  outraged  public  sentiment, 
and  venture  to  patronize  the  alien  born,  and  contend 
for  a  continuanc3  of  his  rights,  now  enjoyed.  Let  us 
raise  then  the  war-cry  against  Catholics  and  against 
foreigners,  and  be  mindful  that  that  war-cry  ring 
loudest  in  the  ears  of  ignorance.  These  suggestions 
I  deemed  most  important  for  our  consideration.  I 
have  none  others  to  offer,  as  Mr.  Fox  will  follow  me; 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.          55 

to  whose  better  sense  and  judgment  in  aril  matters 
pertaining  to  this  organization,  I  am  most  willing  to 
defer. 

Mr.  Fox  rose,  and  said,  "that  every  sentiment 
that  had  been  uttered  commended  itself  to  his  judg 
ment.  The  most  important  general  rules,  for  the  ' 
conduct  of  members  during  the  canvass,  had  already 
been  adopted.  There  were  other  matters,  however, 
that  suggested  themselves  to  his  mind,  which  he 
hoped  would  meet  with  the  favor  of  all  present. 
Much  good,  he  thought,  could  be  accomplished  by 
the  appointment  of  state  canvassers,  whose  duty  it 
should  be  to  thoroughly  canvass  every  section  and 
county  of  the  commonwealth  ;  declare  the  principles 
of  the  order,  form  councils,  and  initiate  candidates 
into  the  order.  Therefore,  at  the  earliest  practicable 
moment,  as  soon  as  this  council  shall  embrace  enough 
members,  to  enable  us  to  make  a  judicious  selection 
of  energetic  men  for  the  work,  that  it  be  done. 
These  men,  of  course,  will  have  to  receive  some 
remuneration  for  their  services,  and  instead  of  a 
fixed  salary,  I  suggest  that  so  much  per  head  for 
initiates,  be  allowed.  This  method  will  stimulate 
them  to  vigorous  action  and  industry."  The  question 
was  taken,  and  decided  that  the  rate  per  head  be 
fixed  at  thirty-three  and  one-third  cents,  and  all  sums 
paid  for  liquor  treats,  where  the  treats  proved  suc 
cessful,,  to  be  refunded.  It,  however,  elicited  some 
debate.  Mr.  Winks  contending,  "  that  it  was  purely 
a  patriotic  move,  that  the  reward  of  patriots  was 
their  country's  love.  He  objected  to  any  price  b^ing 
paid,  if  any,  thirty-three  and  one-third  cents  wa>'  too 


56          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

much,  that  twelve  and  one-half  would  be  ample  pay, 
and  the  employees  would  make  money  at  that  rate. 
Such  would  be  the  unprecedented  rush  for  admission 
into  the  order,  wherever  they  went."  The  gentleman, 
however,  was  out  voted,  and  had  reluctantly  to 
acquiesce. 

This  matter  being  disposed  of,  Mr.  Fox  stated 
"  that  he  had  but  one  other  proposition  to  submit, 
and  that  was,  that  a  stanJing  committee  should  be 
appointed,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  write  letters 
regularly  each  week,  and  furnish  them  to  their  organ 
for  publication.  Said  letters  purporting  to  come 
from  various  sections  of  the  State,  and  giving  the 
most  nattering  and  highly  wrought  pictures  of  the 
prospects  of  the  party.  Even  from  the  mountain 
villages  and  valleys  of  Eockingham  and  Shenan- 
doah;  they  must  give  frequent  accounts  of  Sam's 
glorious  march  towards  final  triumph,  and  strike 
terror  in  the  ranks  of  the  heretofore  self-styled  un- 
terrified."  This  proposition  received  the  warm 
approbation  of  all  present.  "  "We  have  now,"  pro 
ceeded  Mr.  Fox,  "laid  down  all  the  general  rules 
for  the  conduct  of  the  ensuing  campaign.  Other 
matters  will  doubtless  be  suggested  to  our  minds  as 
we  press  on  in  the  glorious  work  we  have  espoused, 
which  can  be  acted  upon  as  occasion  may  call  for. 
Let  me,  in  conclusion,  urge  you  to  diligence  in  the 
work  before  you ;  let  each  and  all  study  the  interest 
of  the  party,  and  strive  by  all  possible  means  to 
prove  ourselves  worthy  of  the  work  of  reformation 
we  have  begun  under  such  flattering  and  favorable 
auspices."  "If  there  is  nothing  more  before  us,  I 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.          57 

move  that  we  ,now  adjourn  till  the  next  regular 
meeting  of  this  council."  This  motion  prevailed, 
and  the  council  adjourned.  They  were  about  re 
tiring,  when  the  panel  in  the  door,  which  had  been 
secured  with  bolts  and  screws,  was  lowered,  and  the 
countenance  of  the  unknown,  who  had  before  in- 
terupted  them,  appeared  through  the  aperture  thus 
created,  "Gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  I  have  warned  you 
once,  listen  to  me  again."  Such  was  the  astonish 
ment  created  by  that  unexpected  voice,  that  each 
man,  without  the  utterance  of  a  word,  took  his  seat. 
They  wished  to  rebel  against  the  intruder ;  but  such 
was  the  tone  of  command  expressed  in  the  voice 
and  mien  of  the  speaker,  that  they  submitted  meekly 
against  their  will.  "  I  warned  you  once,  listen  to 
me  again ;  retire  not  from  this  midnight  hall,  till 
you  have  heard  me  for  the  second  time.  I  speak  to 
you  as  a  Virginian  speaking  to  Virginians,  and  ask 
you,  should  her  sons  be  engaged  in  such  work  as 
this  ?  Do  you  not  know,  though  you  profess  to  Tcnoio 
nothing,  that  you.  are  but  aiding  and  abetting  the 
false-hearted  and  vicious  exciters  of  strife  and  com 
motion  at  the  North,  in  their  unchristian,  unhallowed, 
lawless,  mean,  selfish  crusade  against  southern  pro 
perty,  southern  honor,  southern  prosperity?  Each 
proselyte  that  comes  and  kneels  at  your  new  political 
altar,  and  there  takes  the  horrid  oaths  that  you  do 
there  administer,  adds  but  another  link  to  the  chain, 
which  they  of  the  North  hope  to  prepare,  hope  to 
fetter  you,  hope  to  fetter  me,  and  call  it  southern 
subjugation  for  human  freedom.  On  this  point  I 
ask  you  to  pause,  to  reflect,  to  read,  and  see  what 


58          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

Know  Nothingism  has  done  at  the  North.  The  true 
men  it  has  crushed.  The  negro-loving  and  negrofied 
imbeciles,  it  has  elevated  to  posts  of  honor  and  dis 
tinction.  Instead  of  sympathising  with  these  men, 
you  should  array  yourselves  under  the  broad  and 
glory-bespangled  canopy  of  southern  honor,  and 
standing  there,  you  should  be  ready  to  give  a 
cheerful  beckoning  to  the  hordes  of  mean  and  mis 
erable  miscreants  at  the  North,  should  they  but  dare 
to  touch  the  faintest  star  that  decorates  Virginia's 
crown  of  honor,  and  cry  to  your  comrades,  On !  war 
to  the  knife  I 

"  One  of  your  speakers  has  this  night  indulged 
very  vehemently  in  his  prescious  anthemas  against 
the  much  abused  foreigners.  He  very  triumphantly 
declared  that  the  Native  American  feeling,  now 
arousing  after  the  sleep  of  years,  would  silence  the 
batteries  of  the  opposition,  meaning  the  Democratic 
party.  That  they  would  not  risk  the  storm  of  in 
dignation,  the  odium  of  outraged  public  sentiment, 
and  venture  to  patronize  the  alien  born,  and  contend 
for  a  continuation  of  his  rights  as  now  enjoyed. 
Your  applause  that  greeted  the  utterance  of  the 
sentiment,  is  significant  of  your  sympathy  with  him. 
But  let  me  say  to  you,  that  you  are  vastly  mistaken. 
There  is,  thank  God!  a  party  in  Virginia,  whose 
batteries  cannot  be  silenced,  when  right  and  justice 
demand  that  it  should  speak.  It  invariably  puts  its 
heel  upon,  and  crushes  to  earth,  all  new  fangled  and 
ill-shaped  political  monsters  that  rise  before  it.  If 
it  swears  at  all,  it  is  by  the  spirit  of  the  immortal 
Jefferson,  and  not  by  so  hollow  a  ghost  as  your  clup- 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.          59 

trap  '  Sam.'  And  my  word  for  it,  this  party,  the 
true  Democracy  of  Old  Virginia,  will  declare  and 
maintain,  that  foreigners  shall  be  protected  in  their 
rights.  This  party  will  surely  risk  the  mighty 
storm  of  indignation,  and  instead  of  being  blasted 
by  its  thunders,  a  nation's  plaudit  will  greet  its 
triumph. 

"The  spirit  and  nature  of  our  laws  invite  immi 
gration  to  this  country ;  'tis  the  Democracy's  pride 
and  pleasure  to  sustain  these  laws  inviolate,  by  all 
honorable  means,  and  will  protect  our  citizens,  both 
native  and  naturalized.  All  your  preaching  and 
prating  about  the  elevation  and  election  of  foreigners 
to  office,  is,  to  say  the  least,  both  idle  and  silly,  as 
reason  suggests  and  experience  teaches  that  the 
natural  prejudice  of  the  native  against  the  alien 
born,  supercedes  the  necessity  of  placing  the  latter 
under  any  express  ban  in  this  regard.  Just  here  the 
Democracy  desire  to  leave  the  foreign  question ; 
feeling  secure  in  the  strength  of  the  Republican 
principles  as  tested  in  this  country,  they  have  no 
fears  as  to  the  perpetuity  of  these  principles  from 
any  baneful  influence  that  can  now,  or  can  ever  be 
exercised  on  these  shores  by  the  influx  of  natives  of 
other  climes.  By  bald  and  bare  effrontery,  by  bold 
impudence,  you  have  assumed  the  name  of  Ameri 
can  party,  and  arrogate  to  yourselves  to  be  the 
peculiar  defenders  of  American  interests;  when,  in 
truth,  there  is  not  a  solitary  American  principle  to 
be  discovered  in  your  doctrines  and  teachings.  'Tis 
not  an  American  sentiment  that  instigates  you  to 
despise  and  condemn,  to  turn  away  and  shut  out  the 


60          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

fugitive  to  the  land  of  hope,  whose  rich  fields  are 
ample  enough  for  the  support  of  him  and  his.  'Tis 
not  an  American  sentiment,  that  prompts  you  to 
declare  in  practice,  if  not  in  words,  that  a  man  shall 
not  serve  his  God  according  to  the  teachings  of  his 
own  conscience.  'Tis  not  an  American  practice, 
among  the  honorable  of  Americans,  to  skulk  in 
darkness,  and  with  the  boldness  that  concealment 
gives  to  sin,  plot  your  dark  designs,  and  weave  your 
political  net,  with  which  to  catch  the  unwary  and 
unthinking,  and  compel  them  unwittingly  to  oaths 
against  their  country's  peace  and  good.  This,  sirs, 
I  charge  against  you.  This,  sirs,  the  voice  of  Vir 
ginia  will  charge  against  you,  when  next  her  voice 
is  heard,  and  that  voice  will  doom  your  Order  to  an 
early  end.  Leave  this  work  to  those  who  are  Vir 
ginia's  enemies;  it  does  not  become  her  sons  to 
temper  the  steel  intended  for  her  destruction.  I 
have  no  more  to  say.  It  may  be  due  to  myself, 
however,  to  say,  that  I  am  no  eaves-dropper;  it  is 
only  a  singular  coincidence  by  which  I  have  been 
made  cognizant  of  your  designs  on  two  successive 
meetings  of  your  council.  I  do  not  purposely  come 
hither  to  disturb  your  deliberations.  It  appears  that 
this  room  was  once  a  lodge-room  of  a  section  of 
Sons  of  Temperance,  my  room  was  their  ante-room, 
and  the  panel  I  have  just  lowered  was  constructed 
for  their  convenience.  I  am  in  this  house  just  as 
any  other  transient  boarder,  and  not,  as  I  have  said, 
from  any  special  design  to  disturb  you.  'Twas  duty 
that  caused  me  to  address  you  a  second  time." 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        61 


CHAPTER   Vin. 

IT  appears  from  what  is  recorded  in  the  last  chap 
ter,  that  this  council  were  in  high  spirits,  quite  well 
pleased  with  the  prospects  before  it,  and  sanguine  of 
success  in  the  ensuing  campaign.  It  was  made  the 
duty  of  each  one,  during  the  week  following,  to  busy 
himself  the  most  industriously  in  beating  up  recruits 
to  be  proposed  as  initiates  at  the  next  meeting. 
'Twas  for  this  purpose  that,  on  the  next  morning,  the 
fleshy  legs  of  old  Captain  Swyburg  very  actively  per 
formed  their  part  in  carrying  the  ponderous  body,  at 
the  upper  extremity  of  which  nature  had  attached 
the  broad  ruddy-brown  face,  with  conceited  and  con 
sequential  expression.  The  acquaintances  who  met 
that  face  in  the  street,  remarked  that  its  expression 
was  somewhat  mellowed.  It  wore  a  more  courteous 
expression,  and  consequence  and  deference  seemed 
strangely  blended  together,  which  very  plainly  said, 
true,  sir,  I  am  your  superior,  but  never  mind  that. 
The  public  had  no  idea  that  the  Captain  was  elec 
tioneering,  and  hence  the  astonishment  occasioned  by 
his  change  of  manners. 

On  the  morning  to' which  allusion  is  here  made, 
Captain  Swyburg  was  on  his  way  to  a  certain  cross 
ing,  the  appointed  place  of  meeting  between  himself 
and  Mr.  Winks,  the  council's  committee  of  consul 
tation  with  Mr.  Peter  Willing  Turner.  The  Captain 
reached  the  place  first.  When,  it  is  a  fact  worthy  of 

6 


62          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IX  VIRGINIA. 

record,  that  he  made  at  least  one  dozen  condescend 
ing  bows  to  passers  by.  After  awhile  Mr.  Winks 
also  made  his  appearance  at  the  place  of  appointment, 
and  these  two  gentlemen  at  once  repaired  to  the 
sanctum  of  Mr.  Editor  Turner.  Into  the  presence  of 
the  Editor,  boldly  strutted  the  pompous  Captain, 
followed  by  his  friend  Winks.  Mr.  Turner  advanc 
ing,  received  them  courteously.  Conversation  took 
a  general  turn :  and  the  two  gentlemen  were  at  a 
great  loss,  how  to  approach  him  upon  the  subject  of 
their  mission ;  at  length  minor  subjects  were  dropped, 
and  they  got  upon  the  all-absorbing  theme  of  politics; 
when  the  shy  old  Captain  began  very  adroitly  to 
throw  out  feelers,  as  initiatory  to  the  object  of  his 
call.  Mr.  Turner  knew  that  Captain  Swyburg  had 
belonged  all  his  life  to  the  Democratic  party.  Many 
•were  the  discussions  they  had  had.  Great,  then,  was 
Mr.  Turner's  astonishment,  when  on  uttering  some 
censure  against  a  measure  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  to  the  Captain's  denominating  it  your  party,  to 
receive  the  following  reply:  "  Sir,"  said  he,  "  I  sym 
pathize  with  you,  in  every  sentiment  you  havja 
uttered.  Sir,  I  am,  I  beg  to  say,  no  longer  a  mem 
ber  of  that  party,  and  for  ever  repudiate  its  men  and 
its  measures. 

"I  congratulate  you  most  heartily,  my  old  friend," 
said  Mr.  Turner.  "  May  I  not  hope  that  you  will 
henceforth,  be  found  fighting  in  our  ranks,  the  ranks 
of  the  good  old  Whig  party." 

"Excuse  me,  Sir,"  said  the  Captain,  " but  to  use  a 
homely  expression,  would  not  that  be  swapping  the 
devil  for  a  witch.  No,  I  can  never  join  the  Whig 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.         63 

party ;  true,  some  of  its  principles  I  do  not  object  to, 
yet  experience  has  shown  that  its  principles  can  never 
gain  and  maintain  that  ascendancy  over  the  popular 
mind  of  this  country,  that  a  great  political  party 
should  command.  It  has  been  thoroughly  tested, 
had  its  day,  and  is  proven  to  be  totally  ineffectual  to 
check  the  onward  progress  of  the  dangerous  Demo 
cratic  party.  Whatever  can  cope  effectually  with 
that  party,  should  be  the  rallying  point  of  all  true 
Americans.  In  my  opinion,  the  party  is  now  spring 
ing  up,  which  will  prove  a  successful  rival  with  the 
old  Democratic  party,  in  which,  if  I  mistake  not,  the 
Whig  party  will  soon  be  merged.  With  this  party, 
my  friend  here  present  and  myself  have  already 
united  ourselves ;  and  the  Council  to  which  we  have 
the  honor  to  belong,  feeling  the  absolute  necessity  of 
a  public  press,  and  duly  appreciating  your  talents 
and  influence  in  the  state,  commissioned  ITS,  my 
friend  Winks  and  myself,  to  call  upon  you,  and 
solicit  your  co-operation  in  this  behalf.  We  are 
directed  to  say  to  you,  that  the  Council  simply  desires 
you  to  become  an  initiate  of  the  Order,  to  strike  your 
old  Whig  flag,  and  raise  the  true  American  Banner 
in  its  place.  To  save  you  harmless  from  any  pecu 
niary  loss,  from  the  change,  the  Council  will  enter 
into  bonds,  guaranteeing  to  you  an  amount,  equal  to 
the  present  proceeds  of  your  establishment.  This, 
sir,  is  purely  confidential,  and  if  my  proposition  is 
rejected,  we  will  consider  you  in  honor  bound,  to 
reveal  nothing  that  has  been  said  to  you.  Mr.  Turner 
at  once  caught  the  cue,  and  replied,  "that  a  man 
should  in  all  cases,  act  from  principle  alone,  and  not 


64        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   TN   VIRGINIA. 

be  influenced  in  his  actions  by  motives  of  self-inte 
rest.  I  will  therefore  say  to  you  that  I  have  already 
had  serious  thoughts  of  joining  the  Order  to  winch 
you  belong.  Now  that  this  charge  may  never  be 
laid  to  my  door,  that  the  possibility  of  suspicion  may 
not  even  attach  to  me,  I  would  say  to  you,  that  it 
would  look  better,  for  you  to  report  to  the  Council 
that  you  had  failed  to  have  an  interview  with  me  ; 
then  you  may  depend  upon  it,  that  I  will  solicit  at 
the  next  subsequent  meeting  to  that  which  you  will 
report,  admission  into  the  Order.  This,  gentlemen, 
is  between  us  three,  and  I  hope  you  will  never 
breathe  a  word  of  it.  I  have  found  in  my  dealings 
with  mankind,  that  it  is  the  part  of  wisdom,  to  act 
always  with  due  circumspection  and  caution.  Were 
it  to  appear  that  I  acted  in  this  matter  from  the  soli 
citation  of  a  committee  from  the  Council  pledging  to 
me  no  damage  from  the  change  to  be  made  in  the 
politics  of  my  Journal,  it  might  at  some  day  be  said, 
that  I  acted  not  from  honest  convictions  and  princi 
ple,  but  from  selfish  motives;  to  avoid  this,  my 
answer  to  you  has  been  shaped."  % 

Mr.  Winks,  who  up  to  this  time  had  remained  a 
silent  listener  to  the  conversation,  now  combated  the 
objections  of  Mr.  Turner,  by  saying  "  that  no  time 
was  to  be  lost;  that  if  a  paper  was  to  be  established, 
the  sooner  the  better;  that  there  was  really  nothing 
in  the  objection  stated,  as  all  done  in  and  by  the 
Council  was  enveloped  in  the  impenetrable  folds  of 
secresy.  and  it  would  never  be  known  that  he  had 
been  in  this  wise  solicited  ;  that  no  one  of  the  Council 
would  ever  impugn  his  motives;  for  in  truth  we  if 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        65 

the  Council  thought  we  detected  in  late  editorial 
articles  in  your  journal,  a  sort  of  leaning  towards 
our  principles,  and  regarded  you  as  ready  to  espouse 
the  cause  on  the  first  opportunity  :  and  for  this  pur 
pose  my  friend  and  myself  were  commissioned  to 
hold  this  conference  with  you.  We  can  therefore 
take  no  denial  from  you ;  we  cannot  consent  to  lose 
the  honor  of  being  the  humble  instruments  of  bring 
ing  such  an  acquisition  into  the  Order  as  we  know 
you  would  be." 

Mr.  Turner  gracefully  acknowledged  the  compli 
ment,  and  said  that  he  preferred  the  course  he  had 
stated,  but  was  not  proof  against  such  zealous  impor 
tunity  ;  he  would  therefore  yield  to  their  wishes,  and 
be  proposed  to  the  next  meeting  of  the  Council. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  Captain,  "  it  is  a  wise  determination. 
You  will  never  rue  the  day,  sir,  you  have  made 
this  resolve — the  best,  I  dare  say  the  very  best 
resolve  you  have  made  in  the  whole  course  of  your 
useful  life.  The  Order,  sir,  will  esteem  you  as  a 
prize,  the  best  fish  of  the  season,  rescued  from  the 
muddy  pool  of  political  error,  and  baptized  in  the 
pure  waters  of  Americanism.  Your  talents,  sir,  will 
no  longer  be  thrown  away,  but  be  used  in  a  manner 
well  befitting  a  patriot's  efforts  for  his  country's  good. 
We,  who  have  heretofore  been  separated  in  opinion, 
as  far  as  the  poles  asunder,  strange  to  say,  will  soon 
stand  upon  the  same  plank,  meet  and  commune 
together  at  the  same  council-board.  Sir,  you  will  be 

proposed  to  the  next  meeting.  Meet  at Street, 

No.  — ,  Friday  next,  in  the  time  of  night.  Here  is 
my  hand  till  we  meet  again."  And  thus  terminated 

6* 


66        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

the  interview  of  the  Council's  committe  with  Mr. 
Turner. 

Elated  at  their  success  in  bringing  Mr.  Turner  into 
their  midnight  orgies,  the  two  gentlemen,  on  reach 
ing  the  street,  held  a  short  parley,  and  determined  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  the  day  in  looking  out  for 
dupes.  They  met  with  good  success,  and  by  night 
had  the  promise  of  seven  more  subjects  for  initiation. 
Of  this  number  there  was  one  who,  as  he  shall  figure 
somewhat  conspicuously  in  these  pages,  calls  for 
rather  more  notice  than  bare  mention.  This  gentle 
man's  name  was  Uriah  Hawks,  at  least  this  was  the 
name  he  brought  with  him  from  his  land  of  nativity, 
which  was  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Green 
Mountains  of  Vermont.  Very  little  is  known  in  this 
region  of  his  early  life ;  in  fact  nothing,  except  what 
he  tells  of  himself.  He  says  in  his  early  days  he  was 
not  unused  to  hardship.  The  first  he  knows  of  him 
self,  was  his  escape  from  a  workhouse,  or  some  chari 
table  institution  for  the  poor,  in  that  land  of  philan 
thropy,  and  then,  as  the  saying  goes,  began  to  "shift 
and  scuffle  for  himself."  He  did  this  after  the  genu 
ine  Yankee  fashion,  and  became  quite  an  adept  in  the 
art  of  trading,  swapping,  &c.,  and  in  the  catch-penny 
small  business  generally.  Having  by  his  twenty-first 
year  accumulated  a  wandering  Yankee's  capital,  he 
concluded,  like  many  of  his  race,  to  seek  an  ample 
field  for  the  display  of  his  genius,  and  forthwith 
packed  off  to  the  town  in  Virginia  (to  take  in  the  green 
southerners,)  where  we  this  day  find  him.  He  now 
belongs  to  that  class  of  individuals  who  have  no  par 
ticular  business,  always  ready  to  turn  his  hand  to 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.         67 

whatever  turns  up,  and  promises  payment;  some 
times  collector,  sometimes  book-keeper  for  small 
stores,  sometimes  door-keeper  for  travelling  monkey- 
shows  or  banjo -players.  He  was  of  good  address, 
and  generally  managed  to  make  quite  a  decent  show 
for  a  living.  As  agent  for  some  concern,  he  had 
travelled  a  good  deal  in  the  valley  of  Virginia,  was 
well  acquainted  in  the  Tenth  Legion.  This  fact  was 
known  to  Captain  Swyburg.  The  Captain  thought 
if  he  could  make  him  a  Know  Nothing,  he  would 
prove  an  admirable  canvasser  to  go  into  the  counties 
of  Shenandoah  and  Eockingham ;  so  he  sought  an 
interview  with  Uriah,  and  at  once  set  about  the  in 
teresting  task  of  making  him  a  Know  Nothing.  This 
was  a  very  easy  matter,  especially  as  the  Captain 
understood  his  man,  and  only  had  to  hint  at  the 
prospect  of  making  money  through  the  means  of  a 
commission  from  the  Council.  The  Captain  sug 
gested  the  Tenth  Legion  as  in  all  probability  coming 
within  the  bounds  of  his  field  of  labor,  to  which  Mr. 
Uriah  Hawks  objected,  and  illustrated  his  objection 
to  the  Captain  by  relating  the  following  anecdote : — 
"  When  I  was  a  boy,  I  accidentally  caught  a  young 
sap  sucker,  which  I  trained  to  a  miraculous  extent,  so 
much  so  that  for  a  long  time  I  made  it  my  occupation 
to  carry  the  bird  about  to  different  farm-houses,  and 
engage  with  the  farmers  to  have  their  orchards  cleaned 
of  insects  by  the  sucker.  It  would  require  but  a  few 
days  to  clear  the  largest  orchard  of  all  insects ;  all  it 
could  not  devour  it  would  slay.  How  I  trained  the 
bird  to  this  I  will  not  relate.  After  engaging' with 
the  farmers,  I  would  take  my  little  bird  to  the  orchard, 


G3         LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

set  him  at  his  work  of  death  to  insects,  seat  myself 
under  the  shade,  and  go  to  manufacturing  wooden 
combs,  and  various  kinds  of  ornaments  for  sale,  or  as 
presents  to  the  comely  farmer's  maids.  The  novelty 
of  the  thing  almost  always  ensured  me  employment 
for  my  bird ;  and  if  the  trees  were  not  cleaned  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  owner,  no  pay,  and  board  for  the 
bird  and  myself  was  the  bargain.  Well,  I  never  had 
to  pay  board  but  once,  which  happened  after  the  fol 
lowing  fashion :  I  had  done  a  good  business  in  a  cer 
tain  neighborhood,  and  was  about  leaving,  when  I 
was  advised  by  all  means  to  visit  a  certain  gentleman, 
who  was  a  large  fruit  dealer.  I  was  told  that  he  was 
an  eccentric  gentleman;  that  if  he  should  take  a 
liking  to  me  and  my  bird  he  would,  in  all  probability, 
pay  me  high  wages ;  but  I  was  also  told  to  keep  my 
wits  about  me,  else  I  would  find  myself  caught  by 
some  cute  trick.  Well,  I  considered  myself  just  as 
sharp  as  anybody,  and  did  not  care  for  tricks.  So  to 
him  I  went,  and  told  my  business.  You  have,  said  I, 
a  large  fine  orchard,  but  the  trees  will  all  be  killed 
by  insects.  What  say  you  to  having  this  little  bird 
clean  them  of  every  insect?  Give  me  $10  per  day, 
and  the  work  shall  be  done  in  two  days,  if  not,  I  will 
pay  board  and  leave.  'Du  tell,'  said  the  farmer, 
'  that  little  wee  bird  will  do  all  that !  wonderful,  ain't 
it?  What  will  the  world  come  to  next?  I  like 
your  new  plan  of  bug  killing  amazingly  well ;  and 
now,  to  test  whether  or  not  you  are  a  humbug  your 
self,  my  lad,  I  will  say  this  to  you :  you  must  agree 
to  stay  with  me  eight  days,  before  you  put  the  bird 
in  the  trees.  After  the  eighth  day,  you  may  begin 


LIFE   AXD   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        69 

work ;  if  all  the  insects  in  the  orchard  are  killed,  I 
will  pay  you  $10  per  day  for  each  day  you  stay ;  but 
if  the  bird  fails  to  kill  all  the  insects,  then  you  are  to 
pay  .me  $10  per  day  board  for  each  day.  This  is  a 
fair  bargain  for  you,  and  if  you  are  not  an  impostor, 
will  accept  it.'  Well,  stranger,  said  I,  just  give  me  a 
peep  at  your  trees.  Leave  was  granted ;  they  were 
uncommonly  filthy,  and  nothing  more  that  I  then 
detected ;  so  I  accepted,  having  every  confidence  in 
the  sucker's  ability  to  perform  his  work  to  the 
farmer's  satisfaction.  This  was  a  big  job !  one  hun 
dred  dollars  in  ten  days,  and  as  many  kisses  from  the 
maids  for  trinkets  in  the  week.  The  eighth  day  at 
length  past  away.  The  little  sucker  was,  by  the 
direction  of  the  farmer,  placed  in  the  first  tree  of  the 
first  row,  and  I  was  requested  to  continue  throughout 
the  orchard  by  rows.  The  little  sucker,  having  had 
a  good  long  rest,  went  busily  to  work,  slaying  his 
thousands,  so  that  by  night  he  was  half  way  over  the 
orchard.  I  fancied  that  night,  that  the  old  farmer 
looked  astonished,  as  if  he  thought  he  was  paying 
dear  for  his  whistle,  while  I  felt  that  peculiar  satisfac 
tion  which  the  thought  of  a  sharp  trick,  and  with  it 
the  prospect  of  money,  always  begets  in  a  Yankee 
boy's  heart.  Well,  the  next  evening  was  to  witness 
my  triumph.  At  length,  after  a  diligent  days'  work, 
but  one  tree  remained  to  be  cleaned ;  up  it  the  little 
fellow  flew,  and  the  bugs  began  to  fall ;  the  farmer 
stood  by  my  side,  when,  lo !  and  behold '  such  a  buz 
zing  we  heard  in  the  tree,  and  the  poor  little  bird  was 
thick  beset  with  enemies ;  he  fought  well,  but  had  at 
last  to  give  up  the  fight,  and  leave  the  tree  to  his 


70        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

victors.  He  had  attacked  a  huge  hornet's  nest.  The 
cussed  old  farmer  knew  that  nest  was  there  when  he 
contracted.  He  had  the  impudence  to  claim  the  $100, 
and  I  had  to  plank  the  money  down,  and  acknow 
ledge  that  the  old  fellow  was  too  much  for  me.  In 
following  this  business  subsequently,  I  would  have 
you  know  that  I  always  excepted  hornets,  per  special 
contract.  And  so  it  is,  Captain ;  I  might  perform  the 
good  work  you  wish  to  engage  me  in,  quite  well,  and 
I  hope  to  your  satisfaction,  in  any  other  section  than 
the  Tenth  Legion ;  but,  for  mercy's  sake,  don't  send 
me  there,  to  preach  anything  but  genuine  locofocoism. 
If  you  do,  I  will  find  myself  in  a  hornet's  nest  a 
devilish  sight  hotter  than  the  Yankee  farmer's.  I 
have  had  a  foretaste  of  those  mountain  people ;  a  fine 
set  of  fellows  too,  after  their  fashion,  but  let  politics 
alone.  I  was  up  there  once,  and  remarked  in  a 
crowd  that  Henry  Clay  was  perhaps  a  greater  man 
than  their  Delegate  to  the  General  Assembly,  and 
thought  no  more  of  it.  You  may  well  imagine  my 
surprise,  then,  at  being  waited  on,  a  short  time  after 
wards,  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  crowd,  to 
say  to  me,  if  I  had  any  more  such  remarks  to  make, 
I  had  better  leave  town,  or  have  the  honor  of  strad 
dling  a  rail  horse,  decorated  with  a  suit  of  sap  sucker 
feathers.  I  had  told  the  sap  sucker  story  to  the 
crowd,  all  in  good  sport,  and  I  thought  it  was  hard 
to  have  it  thrown  up  to  me  in  that  manner.  No, 
Captain,  I  will  go  anywhere  else  in  the  State,  but 
deliver  me  from  the  Locofoco  Kingdom  of  Shenan- 
doah." 

The  Captain  enjoyed  his  story  considerably,  and 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        71 

laughed  heartily  at  his  ideas  about  the  people  of  the 
Tenth  Legion,  remarking,  "We  will  discuss  your 
fears  at  another  time,  but  I  do  hope  you  may  be  per 
suaded  upon  to  accept  the  Tenth  Legion  as  your  can 
vassing  field.  Good  day,  Mr.  Hawks;  I  am  quite 
fatigued  with  my  labors  in  this  work,  but  a  patriot 
must  never  play  the  laggard;  so  I  must  away,  and 
look  for  new  recruits." 

Mr.  Winks  did  not  once  participate  in  the  conver 
sation  which  passed  between  Uriah  and  Captain  S., 
and,  on  being  questioned  by  the  Captain  as  to  the 
cause,  remarked,  that  he  believed  the  fellow  was  a 
d — d  foreigner;  upon  which  Captain  S.  broke  out  in 
a  long  loud  laugh.  "  Why,"  said  he,  "  the  fellow  is 
a  most  estimable  mimic ;  he  is  a  good  Irishman  at 
times,  again  a  perfect  Dutchman ;  in  fact,  he  can 
speak  the  Dutch  language  of  Shenandoah  admirably, 
and  for  this  reason  we  should  be  solicitous  about 
sending  him  there."  "  Well,"  said  Winks,  "  I  am 
glad  you  have  undeceived  me,  for  I  feared  you  had 
hung  the  wrong  man,  and  that  he  was  practising  a 
hoax  upon  you ;  so  that  instead  of  hoaxing  you,  he 
was  hoaxing  us ;  and  it  occurs  to  me  now,  that  he 
did  not  give  me  a  specimen  of  the  brogue  until  you 
touched  upon  the  American  question." 

Each  of  the  other  members  of  the  Council  were  as 
busy  as  Captain  S.  and  Mr.  Winks,  and  by  the  end 
of  the  week,  had  procured  the  promise  of  a  large 
number  of  initiates. 


72        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  Council  met  at  the  stated  hour  and  place. 
The  usual  form  of  opening  was  observed,  while 
thirty-two  men  were  in  waiting,  ready  to  be  intro 
duced  to  Sam.  Yarious  were  the  motives  that 
operated  upon  these  men,  in  taking  this  step,  false  at 
least  for  Virginians.  Curiosity,  desire  for  change, 
and  notoriety,  the  rankling  of  disappointment,  occa 
sioned  by  the  refusal  of  place  or  patronage  of  their 
party,  the  hope  of  defeating  the  Democracy,  the  hope 
of  political  plunder,  the  pleasure  of  riding  a  new 
political  pony,  which  would  outdo  the  old  Demo 
cratic  war-horse,  and  safely  reach  the  grand  and 
glorious  goal  of  political  ascendancy  in  the  old 
dominion.  These  were  some  of  the  causes  that  moved 
these  men.  How  many  were  moved  from  genuine 
conviction  and  principle  ?  If  there  was  a  single  one, 
he  should  be  pitied,  as  he  deserved  better  company. 
Thirty-two  men  waited  outside  of  the  door,  and  a 
great  deal  of  tomfoolery  and  Yankee  toolery  was 
being  enacted  inside  of  the  door.  After  all  things 
were  made  ready,  the  worthy  president  having 
snuffed  the  dark-lantern,  &c.,  the  marshall  examined 
the  candidates.  "  Gentlemen,  are  you  candidates  for 
admission  into  this  organization?"  Each  answered, 
"  I  am."  Marshal. — "  Before  proceeding  further,  it  is 
necessary  that  you  take  an  oath  of  secre/y.  Are  you 
willing  to  take  such  an  obligation  ?"  Each  answered 


LIFE   AND   DEATII   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        73 

"  I  am."  A  very  solemn  oath  was  then  administered 
to  each.  Eight  questions  were  then  proposed.  First 
question  :  "  Are  you  twenty-one  years  old  ?"  "  I 
am,"  said  all,  "and  upwards,"  said  Uriah  Hawks, 
being  anxious  to  tell  the  truth  to  the  uttermost 
limit.  Second  question:  "Do  you  believe  in  the 
existence  of  a  Supreme  Being,  the  Creator  and  Pre 
server  of  the  universe,  and  that  the  obligation  at  this 
time,  will  be  binding  upon  you  through  life  ?"  "  I 
do,"  responded  each,  "and  Amen!"  said  Uriah. 
Third  question  :  "  Were  you  born  within  the  limits, 
or  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  of 
America  ?"  "  I  was,"  said  thirty-one.  "  I  cannot 
answer  that,"  said  Uriah  Hawks,  not  being  remark 
able  for  precocity,  "I  cannot  say  that  my  recol 
lection  extends  back  to  the  precise  period  of  my 
birth,  hearsay  is  all  the  evidence  I  have  that  I  was 
born  in  the  United  States ;  if  the  Council  will  receive 
it  as  evidence,  I  suppose  I  can  pass."  Fourth  ques 
tion:  "In  religious  belief  are  you  a  Eoman  Catholic?" 
"  No,"  said  thirty-one.  "  Nor  any  other  kind  of  a 
Catholic,"  responded  Mr.  Hawks.  Fifth  question: 
"  Have  you,  or  have  you  not  been  reared  under  Pro 
testant  influence  ?"  "  Yes,"  answered  thirty-one. 
"  I  cannot  say  that  I  was  reared  under  any  influence, 
if  I  was,  I  cannot  say  under  what  particular  kind," 
said  Mr.  Hawks.  "  I  dislike  to  be  troublesome,  Mr. 
Marshal,  but  I  have  sworn  to  make  true  answer,  and 
'  blast  my  buttons,'  if  I  don't."  Sixth  question : 
"  Are  or  were  either  of  your  parents  Roman  Catholics 
in  religious  belief?"  "No,"  said  thirty-one.  "  Again 
I  cannot  answer,"  said  Uriah.  "  Indeed,  sir,  I  some- 

7 


74        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

what,  in  this  respect,  resemble  my  country  woman's 
(Mrs.  Stowe)  black  Topsy,  was  it  in  the  due  course  of 
nature,  so  far  as  I  am  advised  on  this  subject,  I  might 
answer  that  I  sprouted  from  something,  and  grew  to 
be  what  you  behold,  a  very  respectable  looking  man." 
Seventh  question :  "  If  married,  is  your  wife  a  Roman 
Catholic  ?"  Thirty-one  answered,  "  No."  "  I  must 
divide  that  question,  before  I  answer  it,"  said  Uriah. 
"  No,  I  am  not  married.  No !  she  is  not  a  Catholic." 
Eighth  question :  "  Are  you  willing  to  use  your 
influence,  and  vote  only  for  native  born  American 
citizens  for  all  the  offices  of  honor  or  trust  in  the  gift 
of  the  people,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  foreigners  and 
aliens,  and  of  Eoman  Catholics  in  particular,  and 
without  regard  to  party  predilection  ?"  "  I  am,"  said 
the  thirty-one,  and  Uriah  Hawks.  The  thirty-two 
candidates  were  then  conducted  into  the  presence  of 
the  President,  where  they  took  other  obligations ; 
then  to  the  Instructor,  and  so  on  the  end  of  the 
chapter,  when  they  were  declared  members  in  full 
fellowship,  of  the  Supreme  Order  of  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner. 

The  Council  then  went  into  the  transaction  of  busi 
ness.  The  state  was  divided  into  districts,  and  a 
canvasser  appointed  and  assigned  to  each ;  and,  upon 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  various  gentlemen,  old 
Capt.  Swyburg  was  appointed  canvasser  at  large. 
The  Capt.  said,  "  he  disliked  giving  up  the  pleasant 
Council  meetings,  in  yielding,  he  but  obeyed  the 
voice  of  the  stern  commander,  duty."  Mr.  Uriah 
Hawks  was  nominated  for  the  Tenth  Legion ;  he 
declined  to  accept,  in  a  characteristic  speech,  but  the 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA.        75 

Council  would  accept  no  denial,  and  after  much  dis 
cussion,  he  had  finally  to  agree  to  take  the  Locofoco 
kingdom  of  Shenandpah,  &c.  In  obedience  to  a  reso 
lution  offered  and  adopted  at  a  previous  meeting,  a 
committee  of  letter-writers  was  then  appointed,  Mr. 
Peter  Willing  Turner  being  Chairman,  and  the 
letters,  be  it  borne  in  mind,  were  to  be  published  in 
Mr.  Turner's  own  paper,  and  dated  at  various  sections 
of  the  state.  Nor  was  there  to  be  any  end  to  the 
correspondence,  but  each  issue  of  the  Journal  had  to 
contain  several  of  these,  anonymous  messages  of 
good  tidings  to  the  followers  of  Sam. 

We  will  now  leave  the  Council  to  work  and  hold 
its  regular  meetings.  We  will  not  disturb  Mr. 
Turner,  while  he  is  experimenting  with  the  workings 
of  his  new  helm.  We  will  let  the  canvassers  go  their 
way  rejoicing  in  their  patriotic  and  self-sacrificing 
labors,  but  will  return  to  the  Council,  to  Mr.  Turner, 
and  to  these  canvassers  in  their  winding  pilgrimages, 
£  11  in  good  time,  after  we  have  turned  the  reader  to 
other  scenes,  and  brought  a  heroine  on  the  stage.  In 
taking  leave  of  these  several  worthies,  we  would  not 
say  to  the  reader,  that  when  he  sees  them  again  that 
the  Council  will  have  exploded  from  the  too  great 
pressure  of  the  innate  patriotism  of  its  component 
parts.  We  do  not  say  that  Mr.  Editor  Turner  will 
again  turn  up,  the  very  picture  of  grief  and  melan 
choly,  occasioned  by  the  vexings  of  conscience,  for 
having  too  frequently  published  and  issued  a  certain 
coin,  which,  in  newspaper  parlance,  respectable 
editors  "  nail  to  the  counter."  We  do  not  know  that 
old  Capt.  Swyburg  will  next  appear  in  the  street  of 


76         LIFE   AND   DEATII   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

some  interior  village,  as  drunk  as  native  juice  can 
make  him.  We  do  not  know  that  Yankee  Uriah 
will  get  into  another  hornets'  nest,  or  that  his 
co-laborers  will  find  themselves  in  equally  interesting 
situations;  but  to  use  a  trite  saying,  one  that  is 
regarded  by  some  as  a  truism,  "  We  shall  see  what 
we  shall  see." 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM    IX    VIRGINIA.        77 


CHAPTER  X. 

IT  was  a  few  evenings  after  the  events  recorded 
in  the  last  chapter.  It  was  a  bright  and  beautiful 
autumn  night;  the  air  was  cool,  just  enough  so  to  be 
invigorating,  and  to  infuse  life  and  high  spirits  into 
those  who  breathed  it  openly,  and  beyond  the  close 
atmosphere  of  heated  grates.  The  moon  was  at  its 
full,  it  shone  bright  and  bea£iful;  an  occasional  cloud 
would  pass  over  its  smiling  face,  as  if  to  get  its  misty 
particles,  bedecked  with  a  snow-white  fringe,  beauti 
ful  in  its  irregularity,  inviting  beholders  to  admire 
its  borrowed  spangles  of  the  moon's  bright  beams  of 
silvery  brightness.  The  cloud-veil  would  pass  on,  its 
silvery  fringe  would  change  to  some  sombre  tinge,  to 
be  succeeded  by  another,  which  would  in  like  manner 
be  illumined  for  a  brief  moment,  and  then  pass,  pass 
away.  During  the  intervals,  the  queen  of  night  threw 
its  waves  of  light  upon  the  city  in  quiet  after  a  day's 
work  with  its  bustle  and  confusion.  The  scene  pre 
sented  a  city  in  repose.  Nothing  disturbed  the  quiet 
save  an  occasional  bell-tap  clove  the  still  air,  a  window- 
shutter  now  and  then  rattled  on  its  hinges,  or  a  dray 
man's  wheels  rattling  on  the  pavement,  as  he  drove 
his  weary  team  towards  home  for  food,  for  water,  and 
for  rest.  A  little  later,  and  lights  gleamed  from  a 
brilliantly  illuminated  mansion,  situated  on  a  fashion 
able  street;  a  little  later  still,  and  sleek,  pampered 
steeds,  to  handsome  equipages  dashed  along  many 


73         LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM    IN   VIRGINIA. 

streets  and  crossings,  and  halted  at  the  mansion  door, 
(iaily  dressed  pedestrians,  male  and  female,  in  groups 
of  cozy  couples  or  more  entered  the  gate.  All  things 
indicated  splendor  within,  and  a  stranger  would  have 
said  at  once,  that  it  was  a  party  of  the  Ton,  and  so 
it  was.  The  social  entertainment  was  given  by  a 
wealthy  man;  beauty,  grace,  elegance,  refinement  and 
intelligence  was  there,  such  as  is  found  in  an  assem 
bly  of  Virginia's  fair  daughters.  The  fairest  of  the 
fair,  the  loveliest  of  the  lovely,  was  Fannie  Bell. 
That  dark-brown  hair  in  ringlets  hung,  and  now  and 
then  a  tiny  one  would  stray  from  beneath  the  tether 
influence  of  tuck  or  pin,  to  rest  upon  a  forehead  fair, 
and  almost  like  a  thing  of  life,  waved  to  the  zephyr's 
touch;  it  sported  there,  and  all  unconscious  of  the 
effect  it  gave  the  face,  she  moved  amid  the  brilliant 
throng.  Her  eyes  of  hazel  dark  were  laughing  eyes, 
and  laughing  whispered,  love  me,  I  am  a  thing  of 
light  and  love.  The  penciling  of  the  arches  above 
was  nature's  own,  perfect  and  perceptible  to  the  point 
where  the  temples  claim  a  place,  which,  to  the  glow 
ing  cheeks,  were  like  the  snow-flake  resting  on  the 
early  rose.  Her  form  was  graceful  and  commanding; 
her  step  elastic,  but  natural,  and  free  from  all  false 
airs  which  savor  of  affectation ;  her  spirits  were  light 
and  buoyant,  her  disposition  trusting  and  confiding, 
and  about  her  a  child -like  simplicity  and  artlessness, 
which  rendered  her  extremely  interesting;  indeed,  to 
confiding  friends  would  be  intensely  so,  by  the  im 
plicit  confidence  she  would  place  in  all  their  words 
and  acts:  her  mind  was  a  woman's  mind,  strong  and 
quick,  which  had  not  been  neglected  in  her  school-girl 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        79 

days,  her  days  of  bread  arid  butter,  but  cultivated  be 
yond  the  majority  of  her  sex.  Her  education  was 
just  completed,  this  her  first  winter  in  society,  her 
first  appearance  in  the  society  of  her  new  home.  Her 
father  was  a  man  of  large  wealth,  and  for  the  purpose 
of  educating  his  younger  children  had  recently  re 
moved  from  the  country  to  the  city. 

Among  the  young  gentlemen  present  on  this  occa 
sion,  was  Maurice  Meredith.  The  reader  has  seen  him 
in  worse  company,  though  then  his  name  was  un 
known  to  him,  but  the  truth  must  out  here,  he  was 
one  of  the  thirty-two  candidates  initiated  at  the  last 
meeting  of  the  council.  Bred  to  the  bar,  he  was 
already  winning  fame  as  a  lawyer  of  talents  unques 
tionable  ;  he  was  regarded  as  a  rising  man,  and  one 
that  would  surely  mount  higher  and  higher  on  fame's 
alluring  ladder;  as  a  politician,  he  promised  to  be 
popular,  but  like  too  many  aspiring  men,  he  could 
not  await  time's  slow  course  as  he  turns  up  events, 
and  with  events  mounts  men  on  their  topmost  heights, 
to  guide  the  issue  and  direct  the  wind  of  popular  fa 
vor;  he  could  not  wait — the  deceptive  gab  of  the 
Know  Nothings  was  an  alluring  song  in  his  too  wil 
ling  ear,  promising  immediate  promotion  and  political 
honor.  Reason  and  prudence  said  to  him,  wait  and 
reflect;  Know  Nothings  said,  within  our  council  lies 
the  key,  go  with  us,  in  your  hands  it  shall  be  placed, 
and  with  it  unlock  the  hard-bound  gates  that  lead  to 
fame  and  immortality.  He  yielded,  and  was  intro 
duced  to  Sam ;  they  gave  him  the  key,  but  the  gate 
it  unlocked  will  be  told  of  in  a  future  page. 

Maurice  Meredith  was  regarded  by  the  Order  as  an 


80        LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

acquisition  of  more  than  ordinary  interest,  and  rig! it 
proud  the  members  were  that  he  had  in  solemn  oaths 
declared  himself  a  believer  in  their  doctrines,  a  parti 
cipant  in  their  sympathies,  and  a  co-laborer  in  their 
nefarious  designs.  His  features,  if  not  handsome, 
were  bold  and  indicative  of  honesty  and  manliness ; 
polished  in  his  manners,  and  gentlemanly  in  his 
deportment,  with  that  pleasant  grace  about  him,  which 
told  a  poor  man,  when  he  shook  him"by  the  hand,  that 
he  was  his  equal.  He  had  been  a  diligent  student 
from  his  school  days,  and,  like  most  persons  who  are 
really  students,  had  spent  but  little  time  in  the  Com 
pany  of  young  ladies,  and  strange  to  say,  had  never 
had  a  little  sweetheart  in  his  boyish  days,  with  whom 
to  converse  in  child-like  prattle  or  sport  in  child-like 
glee.  No,  he  never  had  a  little  sweetheart,  with  whom  to 
wade  in  pearly  brooks,  and  gather  snowy  pebbles  on 
the  green  bank,  and  with  the  pebbles  have  a  cozy 
little  game  of  checkers.  No,  he  never  had  a  littlo 
sweetheart,  whose  name,  if  mentioned  by  Pa  or  Ma, 
or  big  brother,  would  bring  a  blush  to  round,  plump 
cheeks.  No,  he  never  had  a  little  sweetheart,  for 
whom  he  would  cull  the  earliest  flowers  of  spring, 
and  by  stealth  convey  them  to  her.  No,  he  never  had 
a  little  sweetheart,  to  love  with  the  heaven-akin  joys 
of  early  affection,  or  one  in  whose  ear  to  lisp  forth 
vows  of  fidelity — vows  to  be  consummated  at  earliest 
manhood.  But  of  late,  now  that  he  had  established 
himself  in  business,  he  had  begun  to  seek  the  society 
of  the  fair  ones,  and,  surprising  as  it  may  appear,  the 
green,  disagreeable,  awkward  Maurice  Meredith,  as 
the  fair  ones  termed  him,  was  suddenly  transformed 


LIFE    AND   DEATH    OF   SAM    IN    VIRGINIA.         81 

into  the  pleasant,  agreeable  Mr.  Meredith — some  going 
so  far  as  to  call  him  a  perfect  love  of  a  man ;  but  this 
is  the  way  of  the  world,  at  least  of  its  fair  portion — 
but  we  have  no  wish  to  incur  their  displeasure  by  any 
saucy  criticisms.  Mr.  Meredith  had  of  late  attended 
several  parties,  and  played  the  beau  admirably,  and. 
this  was  enough.  Gossip,  with  her  keen  perceptibili 
ties,  sees  portentous  events  in  the  most  trivial  circum 
stances.  She  will  magnify  the  simple  act  of  picking 
up  a  lady's  fan  into  more  than  civility  and  common 
politeness ;  sees  in  every  glance  a  wedding  brewing ; 
hears  in  every  gentle  tone  a  courtship,  and  sympa 
thizes,  in  every  unconscious  sigh,  for  the  luckless, 
heartsick  swain.  She  had  already  begun  to  pay  her 
respects  to  Mr.  Meredith,  and  swiftly  she  used  her 
flying  pinions,  and  cautiously  and  incautiously  used 
her  many  sayings,  in  discussing  his  prospects  and 
deciding  his  fate — all  in  advance  of  the  poor  young 
man,  as  he  had  never  seen  the  object  his  fancy  had 
painted  on  the  delicate  canvass  of  his  soul's  bright 
imaginings.  His  inmost  soul  had  pined  for  the 
appearance  of  his  fancy's  picture — but  she  came  not. 
In  every  gay  crowd  he  looked,  but  found  her  not ;  he 
hoped  and  still  hoped,  he  feared  and  feared  again ; 
sometimes  despaired,  and  then  hoped  and  feared — but 
she  came  not.  At  times  he  would  condemn  himself 
for  fostering  and  cherishing  the  idea  of  his  soul's 
picture,  and  endeavor  to  fix  his  attention  on  some 
fair  one  that  had  reality,  form,  bona  fide  flesh,  blood 
and  sinews,  but  to  no  purpose  :  the  ideal  picture  would 
appear,  and  the  real  fair  one  fade  in  the  comparison. 
But  why  the  change  in  Maurice  Meredith's  manner 


82        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

to-night?  Why  the  changing  cheeks,  flushing  now. 
and  in  an  instant  pale?  Why  the  varying  spirits, 
now  flowing  free  and  exuberant,  the  next  moment  sad 
and  silent,  with  the  sometimes  slightly  interesting 
shade  of  melancholy?  Why  were  all  the  unchari 
table  questions,  is  he  drunk  ?  does  he  drink  ?  &c., 
softly  whispered  by  members  of  the  assmbled  com 
pany.  No,  he  was  not  drunk ;  he  does  not  drink ; 
but  Maurice  Meredith  was  excited  ;  his  soul's  picture 
had  appeared  in  the  form  of  Fannie  Bell,  and  he  was 
happy,  was  entranced,  was  in  love.  And  oh,  the 
blessedness  of  that  moment! — the  melting,  soothing 
heart-throbs,  beating  in  the  excessive  feeling  of 
unspeakable  joy ! — he  who  has  felt  it  only  knows  its 
consolations  and  its  pleasures.  He  sought  an  intro 
duction,  and  a  too-early  betrayal  of  his  emotions  was 
the  difficulty  prudence  directed  him  to  guard  against. 
A  pause  followed  the  introduction,  and  disquietude 
was  betokened  in  his  countenance,  as  a  grave  thought 
for  the  first  time  passed  through  his  mind.  In  all  his 
imaginings,  the  casket  had  been  only  viewed ;  he  now 
beheld  the  casket ;  what  if  the  better  part,  the  jewel, 
the  mind,  was  not  in  sympathy  with  the  casket  ?  He 
addressed  some  common-place  observations,  and  a 
voice,  soft  and  gentle,  fell  on  his  ear.  He  next  called 
from  his  fund  of  humor  some  little  snatch  of  pleas 
antry,  and  a  musical  laugh  rung  out  clear  and  distinct. 
His  next  experiment  was  with  argument,  and  he  found 
his  opinions  resolutely  and  reasonably  combatted,  and 
then  the  disquietude  passed  from  his  countenance,  and 
he  had  found  a  jewel  with  bright  adornings. 

How  was  it  with  Fannie  Bell ;    had  she  a  soul 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF    SAM    IN    VIRGINIA.         83 

picture,  too,  seen  in  the  future,  or,  like  many  Misses 
of  the  present  day,  had  she  even,  in  her  school  days, 
fixed  her  affections  upon  some  precocious  neighbor 
hood  urchin.  Had  she  seen  him,  and  seeing  was 
content,  or  did  she  sometimes  build  gaudy  castles, 
mounted  and  moving  high  in  air,  and  in  that  castle, 
at  the  dinner  table,  did  just  such  a  person  as  Maurice 
Meredith  preside,  and  at  the  table's  foot  do  its  graces? 
Had  she,  in  a  girl's  gay  imaginings,  traveled  the 
halcyon  paths  of  earliest  and  dearest  love,  with  just 
such  a  manly  form  by  her  side,  had  she  in  traveling 
love's  path,  come  to  one  of  its  rough  places,  and 
there  felt  a  thorn,  and  tasted  a  poignant  regret,  and 
had  just  such  a  voice,  in  pleading  tones,  asked  her 
to  accept  the  consolations  of  a  sympathising  heart. 

Is  she  pleased  or  displeased  with  his  attentions  ? 
none  can  answer.  She  is  dignified,  self-possessed. 
Is  she  •  aware  of  her  conquest  ?  Apparently,  no. 
Does  she  show  partiality  for  the  handsome  stranger, 
at  the  risk  of  wounding  the  feelings  of  an  old 
friend  at  her  elbow  ?  No.  Does  she  now  and  then 
seize  pauses,  and  converse  in  easy  confidence  with 
the  old  friend,  as  if  to  arouse  the  curiosity  or  the 
suspicion  of  the  stranger,  of,  perhaps,  an  old  under 
standing?  No,  Fannie  Bell  is  no  light-headed,  false 
hearted,  airy  thing  of  much  ado  and  nothing,  at  last 
called  a  flirt;  but  a  true  born  Virginia  lady;  dig 
nified,  while  affable,  prudent  and  discreet ;  and  her 
ways  and  manners  are  ways  and  manners  of  pleasant 
ness  to  all.  Much  was  the  attention  she  received  on 
this  occasion,  and  the  most  assiduous  was  young 
Meredith,  so  that  by  the  close  of  the  evening,  they 


84:         LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

had,  at  least,  began  to  be  acquainted  with  the  hope, 
expressed  by  him  on  parting,  that,  "  if  agreeable,  he 
•would  be  most  happy  to  know  her  better,"  and  some 
thing,  too,  said  about  a  call  the  next  week,  if  agreea 
ble,  of  course.  Young  men  are  so  prone  to  lug  in 
that  "IF  AGREEABLE,"  while  playing  the  agreeable 
in  winning  hearts ;  how  many  do  it  after  the  hearts 
are  won,  and  the  priest  has  tied  the  agreeable  knot  ? 
not  many  we  fear. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA,,          85 


CHAPTER  XL 

MAURICE  MEREDITH  left  the  social  hall  that  night 
alone,  and  repaired  at  once  to  his  room.  Naturally 
fond  of  company,  yet  this  night  he  wanted  to  be 
alone;  he  wished  to  commune  with  himself,  in 
blissful  solitude,  in  stillness,  to  let  his  soul  go  forth, 
and  roam  at  will  in  the  bright  elysiums  hope 
pictured  in  the  future.  The  smiles  of  Fannie  Bell  in 
that  elysium  made  all  things  bright;  her  presence 
made  all  joy  and  contentment  there.  He  was  raising 
the  curtain  to  take  a  peep  at  the  roseate  field  before 
his  mind,  just  as  he  entered  his  door,  when,  to  his 
mortification,  a  gentleman  awaiting  his  return,  put 
all  his  mind- work  in  confusion,  and  chased  his  day 
dream  far  away.  The  gentleman  was  no  other  than 
Mr.  Fox,  the  Know  Nothing,  mentioned  to  the  reader 
some  time  since. 

"  Well,  Maurice,"  said  Mr.  Fox,  "  we  shall  give 
them  thunder  I" 

"Thunder!  who  thunder?"  said  Meredith,  ab 
stractedly  ;  he  was  thinking  then  of  something  Fannie 
had  said  about  a  favorite  little  rose  bud,  and  hoped 
the  shower  would  revive  it.  "Did  you  say  you 
thought  it  was  about  to  rain,  Fox  ?" 

"Why,  man,  what  are  you  talking  about,  is 
thunder  and  a  shower  inseparately  connected  in 
your  mind  ?  I  said  that  we  would  give  the  Loco- 
focos  thunder;  or  if  you  are  too  stupid  to  comprc- 

8 


86          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA 

hend  metaphors,  we  will  give  them,  what  you  ought 
to  have,  for  leaving  your  post  to-night,  a  sound 
thrashing." 

It  should  be  known  that  Mr.  John  Jas.  Gustavus 
Adolphus  Fox  had  been  appointed  by  the  Council  a 
kind  of  secretary  or  scribe,  and  was,  also,  one  of  the 
committee  of  letter- writers.  His  purpose,  in  visiting 
Maurice  to-night,  was  to  procure  his  assistance  in 
doing  up  a  budget  of  letters,  to  be  published  in 
Mr.  Turner's  paper. 

"  Well,  Maurice,"  said  he,  "are  you  in  a  political 
mood  to-night?  If  so,  you  will  be  kind  enough 
to  listen  to  several  letters  I  have  concocted  in  your 
absence,  which  will  be  open  to  your  criticism  and 
correction." 

The  weary  young  man  assented,  and  Mr.  Fox 
read  as  follows : 

"  For  the  Virginia  American. 

"KANAWHA  Co.,  VA. 

"  Mr.  Editor. — I  have  but  few  leisure  moments  this 
evening,  but  cannot  refrain  from  offering  rny  con 
gratulations  to  you,  sir,  for  the  bold  stand  you  have 
taken  in  the  great  American  cause.  Your  paper, 
sir,  does  you  honor,  and  is  an  honor  to  your  State 
and  party.  Send  ten  copies  to  the  address  enclosed. 
You  may.  set  this  county  down  as  all  right  in  the 
election.  The  old  Democrats  are  fast  falling  from 
their  ranks,  and  uniting  with  us  nightly.  Who  can 
withstand  the  mighty  tide  of  American  might  pres 
sing  hard  upon  the  infamous  dogmas  of  aliens  born, 
striving  for  ascendency  here.  Pile  on  the  agony, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.          87 

Mr.  Editor,  and  in  each  issue  give  the  natives  glory, 
and  the  aliens — h —  I 

"  Yours  truly,  SALT." 

"Since  the  letter  is  open  to  my  correction,"  said 
Maurice,  "  I  would  suggest  a  simple  amendment ; 
strike  out  the  closing  words  in  the  body  of  the  com 
munication,  and  insert  '  their  dues,'  or  something  to 
that  effect."  He  was  thinking  of  Fannie,  and  this  it 
was  that  ruled  the  harsh  word  out.  Love  makes 
the  most  obdurate  sometimes  strangely  pious.  Mr. 
Fox  agreed  to  the  amendment,  and  proceeded  to 
read  another  autograph  composition. 

"  STAUNTON,  AUGUSTA. 

"  Mr.  Editor  — Dear  sir :  Thinking  that  a  word  from 
old  Augusta  at  this  time  would  not  be  uninteresting 
to  the  numerous  readers  and  friends  of  your  valuable 
(thrice  valuable  journal,  now  that  it  is  in  all  things 
most  essentially  American),  I  am  constrained  to  write 
you  a  line  or  two.  The  Americans  in  good  old 
Augusta  are  now  organizing  carefully  and  deliber 
ately  for  the  approaching  campaign.  All  things 
to  this  period  have  gone  on  most  harmoniously. 
We  are  wholly  confident  that  no  discord  will  again 
divide  our  ranks,  and  through  the  unsightly  breach 
allow  two  members  of  the  opposition  to  find  seats  in 
the  General  Assembly,  as  was  our  misfortune  in  the 
last  general  election.  Seven  American  lodges  are 
already  in  successful  operation,  and  several  others 
contemplated.  We  are  skinning  the  unwashed  most 
unmercifully,  and  coining  votes  daily,  so  that  Mr. 


88          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

Skinner  and  Mr.  Koiuer  may  expect  to  remain 
in  Augusta  during  the  winter  of  '55  and  '56.  If 
the  good  feeling  and  enthusiasm  now  existing  con 
tinues  to  prevail  up  to  the  election ;  the  opposition 
will  not  poll  over  three  hundred  votes  all  told. 
I  have,  to-day,  conversed  with  an  intelligent  Demo 
crat  from  the  Legion  over  the  way  here,  and  he 
informs  me  that  even  there,  there  is  much  disaffec 
tion  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democracy.  So  much  so, 
that  several  very  accurate  Democratic  prognosticates 
have  thus  early  given  up  the  election.  If  this  be 
true,  thus  early,  what  may  we  not  hope  for,  when 
the  leaven  of  true  republicanism,  now  being  poured 
in  upon  the  native  masses,  begins  to  perform  its 
natural  functions  ?  "Will  not  then,  I  ask,  the  whole 
body  of  natives  to  the  manor  born,  rise  as  one  in  ass 
of  true  men  to  a  country  dear,  and  proclaim  that 
1  Americans  shall  rule  America.' 

"  I  have  no  more  to  say  at  present,  except  to  add, 
that  that  truly  noble  old  soul,  and  politically  pious 
old  missionary,  Captain  Swyburg,  of  your  place, 
passed  through  our  town  a  few  days  ago.  lie  has 
began  his  canvassing  tour,  and  will  visit  first  some 
of  the  extreme  border  counties ;  success  will  surely 
attend  the  efforts  of  such  a  man. 

"  Yours,  respectfully,  VALLEY." 

"  "Well,  Mr.  Corrector,  have  you  any  comments 
on,  or  amendments  to  make  to  this  ?" 

"  Neither,"  was  the  laconic  reply. 

"  I  perceive,"  said  the  indefatigable  Fox,  "  that 
you  are  becoming  weary  of  my  productions.  So, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIEGINIA.          89 

by  way  of  variety,  with  your  consent,  I  will  just 
read  you   a  letter  come  to   hand  to-day,  from  our 
Yankee   wag,    Uriah.      It   is    characteristic   of   the 
author,  and  abounds  in  droll  expressions,  &c." 
It  ran  as  follows : 

"  IOTH  LEGION. 
"  My  respected  Mr.  Fox. 

"  Dear  Sir. — Hawk,  if  you  drop  the  final  s,  to  Fox, 
without  curtailment,  greeting.  You  expressed  the 
desire  on  parting  with  me  to  be  furnished  now  and 
then  with  an  account  of  my  political  pilgrimage  in 
the  mountains  of  Yirginia.  Well,  punctuality  is 
one  of  my  good  points,  so  here  goes  for  my  account 
rendered  thus  far.  But,  before  I  put  another  item 
on  this  acccount,  I  want  you  to  recollect  that  I  am 
no  scholar,  and  in  writing  up  my  accounts  do  it  in 
a  plain  blunt  way.  Whatever  pops  in  my  head 
skates  out  at  the  end  of  my  pen,  just  like  a  shot  out 
of  a  shovel,  and  I  write  my  debits  and  credits 
all  down  together,  taking  care,  however,  to  put  the 
credits  down  in  pretty  big  letters.  I  suppose,  with 
the  aid  of  the  above  elucidation,  you  understand  my 
patent  double-entry  way  of  keeping  my  journal,  so  I 
will  proceed. 

"  I  have  now  been  in  this  section  about  ten  days, 
and  a  less  persevering  man  would  ere  this  have  des 
paired  of  accomplishing  any  thing.  But,  I  accepted 
the  mission  reluctantly,  and  with  a  full  view  of  the 
difficulties  to  be  encountered,  so  far  I  have  not  estab 
lished  a  single  lodge ;  true,  that  by  hook  and  by 
crook,  by  screwing  here  and  screwing  there,  and  by 

8* 


90          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 

ingenuity  every  where,  I  have  the  promise  of  some 
six  or  eight  initiates ;  who,  if  fortune  favours,  will  be 
'put  through'  in  a  few  days;  one  of  them  has  gone 
down  to  Staunton  to  talk  with  the  knowing  ones 
there,  and  if,  when  he  returns,  he  reports  favorably, 
we  will  set  the  lodge  to  work. 

"I  am  here  ostensibly  as  agent  for  a  certain  insurance 
company,  for,  was  my  real  purpose  known,  I  should 
have  to  cut  gravel,  and  no  mistake.  I  reached  a  cer 
tain  little  town  a  few  days  since,  some  time  after  dark, 
and  put  up  at  the  best  hotel.  Well,  thinking  I  had 
as  well  be  there  as  elsewhere,  if  the  good  work  was 
going  on,  I  concluded  to  spend  several  days,  and  told 
the  landlord,  that  I  had  business  that  would  probably 
detain  me  a  week  or  so ;  he  expressed  himself  pleased 
at  my  determination,  saying,  that  I  should  have  the 
best  the  town  afforded.  Early  in  the  morning,  I 
thought  I  would  go  out,  and  reconnoitre.  On  step 
ping  into  the  street,  I  noticed  just  opposite  the  house, 
in  about  the  centre  of  a  small  vacant  lot,  a  rough 
looking  rail  stuck  in  the  earth,  with  a  board  nailed 
to  it  just  below  the  top,  on  which  was  inscribed  in 
large  letters,  *  BEWARE  ;'  on  the  ground  was  a  barrel, 
and  an  old,  dirty  looking  bed  tick,  full  of  something. 
What  to  make  of  the  things  I  could  not  tell;  just 
then  the  landlord  came  out;  said  I,  'My  good  fellow, 
what's  that  over  the  way,  is  that  lot  posted?1  'Well,' 
said  he,  '  I  reckon  'tis,  and  so  is  this  whole  town ;  a 
certain  kind  of  cattle  can't  hunt  in  these  parts.  As 
you  are  a  stranger,  I  had  as  well  explain  it  to  you, 
as  the  town  folks  all  understand  it,  and  it  is  intended 
expressly  for  strangers.  You  see,  every  stranger  that 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.          91 

stops  in  town  puts  up  at  my  house,  and  not  at  the 
'  One  Ilorse '  tavern  below  here,  the  landlord  of  which 
is  a  political  heretic,  and  don't  believe  in  Gen.  Jack 
son  ;  that  spot  was  selected,  my  friends  knowing  that 
T  would  at  all  times  be  in  place,  ready  and  willing  to 
explain  its  object.  Well,  we  fixed  the  thing  so  that 
it  would  surely  attract  the  attention  of  strangers,  and 
they  would  as  surely  ask  for  its  explanation  as  you 
have  done,  and  I  have  told  them  all,  as  I  must  now 
tell  you  its  meaning — that  upright  is  a  rail — that 
barrel  is  full  of  tar — and  that  old  tick  is  full  of 
feathers;  now,  the  first  man  that  conies  along  this 
way,  disturbing  our  peace  and  quiet,  and  our  politi 
cal  faith,  by  preaching  the  dogarotted  nonsense  about 
Know  Nothing-ism,  is  to  be  served  as  the  signs  in 
the  middle  of  that  lot  would  indicate.'  I  replied  to 
my  informer,  that  I  was  agent  for  an  insurance  com 
pany,  and  asked  him,  had  they  better  not  have  it 
insured?  ' No,'  thundered  out  the  fellow, 'our  love 
and  veneration  for  the  glorious  principles  of  old  Jack 
son,  is  a  sufficient  insurance  to  us  that  no  foul  hand 
will  touch  it — there  is  but  one  man  in  town  that 
would  like  to  do  it,  and  he  is  the  keeper  of  t'other 
house,  and  he  knows  which  side  of  his  bread  is  but 
tered,  and  ain't  going  to  touch  it.'  I  was  just  turn 
ing  away,  thinking  I  had  better  order  my  horse  and 
strike  for  better  parts,  when  an  old  farmer  rode  up, 
and  lighted  at  the  tavern.  'Well,  neighbor,'  said 
the  landlord,  'what's  the  news  over  the  creek?  How 
is  politics? — any  Know  Nothings  down  thar  yet?' 
'  Well,  there  ain't  much  news  to  tell  on,  old  Squire 
Sprowler's  barn  burnt  down  last  night ;  as  to  politics, 


92          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

thar  ain't  much  stirring  yet ;  all  things  seem  to  look 
pretty  much  right,  except,  that  same  old  Squire  Sprow- 
ler,  has  got  sorter  twisted  somehow  or  other,  and  they 
say,  if  he  ain't  rectified  by  lection  day,  he  will  carry 
all  he  kin  agin  us — he  is  a  powerful  head-strong  man, 
and  when  he  takes  a  notion,  it  is  onreasonable  hard 
to  change  him.'  Having  heard  this  conversation,  I 
concluded  that  there  was  a  prospect  of  my  doing 
something  for  our  cause,  down  the  creek  with  old 
Sprowler,  so  I  told  the  landlord,  that  as  a  man  was 
more  apt  to  insure  after  a  loss,  I  would,  if  he  would 
give  me  the  direction,  ride  down  to  the  Squire's,  and 
see  if  he  would  not  insure.  He  approved  my  plan, 
and  gave  me  the  directions.  I  rode  some  six  or 
eight  miles  over  one  of  Virginia's  patent  mud  pikes, 
and  turned  down  a  rough  country  road,  which  soon 
brought  me  to  the  Squire's  house.  I  found  him  in 
none  of  the  best  humors,  being  terribly  out  about  his 
loss  by  the  fire,  but  no  argument  or  persuasion  could 
induce  him  to  insure.  I  then  very  adroitly  intro 
duced  the  subject  of  politics,  and  found  that  he  was 
really  not  in  a  very  kind  mood  towards  his  party. 
"Well,  thinking  he  had  taken  exception  to  some  po 
litical  measure,  perhaps  to  some  of  General  Pierce's 
blunders,  I  endeavored  to  draw  him  out,  so  as  to  see 
his  bent,  and  shape  my  manoeuvres  with  him  accord 
ingly.  What  was  my  surprise  then,  when  he  very 
quietly  stated  his  grievances  as  follows : — 

" '  You  see,'  said  he,  'our  man  Divers,  while  'lection  - 
eering,  came  along  this  way,  as  he  always  does,  gave 
me  a  call,  that  wa'nt  worth  while,  for  he  knowed  old 
Sprowler  was  gwine  to  vote  for  him,  but  I  s'pose  he 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.          93 

just  wanted  to  be  civil  like ;  that  was  all  right  enough, 
but  while  here  he  made  me  a  promise,  of  his  own 
notion,  which  he  aint  never  corne  up  to,  and  I  fear 
never  will.  lie  promised,  stranger,  to  give  me  a 
setting  of  Shanghai,  or  Shankly  eggs,  I  don't  know 
which,  he  said  they  would  grow  high  enough,  to  pick 
corn  off  the  old  'oman's  dining  table.  After  awhile 
another  candidate  came  along,  who  was  a  mighty 
proper,  promising  young  man,  a  running  agin  Divers; 
I  told  him  of  the  promise  his  opponent  had  made 
me.  '  Why,'  said  he,  '  you  will  never  get  them  eggs ; 
if  you  do,  it  is  a  notorious  fact,  that  Divers  eggs 
won't  hatch,  besides,  I  will  give  you  a  setting  of  Spa 
nish  mixture  eggs,  which  will  grow  so  high,  that 
when  the  cock  crows  the  gauky  Shanghai  will  be  so 
fur  down  below  him,  that  he  can't  hear  him ;'  but  my 
word  was  out  to  Divers,  and  I  thought  I  would  be 
content  with  the  Shankly,  but  if  you  believe  me,  I 
haint  heard  a  word  about  them  eggs  to  this  day ;  and 
this  is  what  I  am  quarreling  with  my  party  about ; 
their  man  selected,  has  made  me  a  promise,  that  he 
never  filled.  I  am  no  grumbler,  but  I  hate  to  be 
disappointed,  and  if  they  aint  forthcoming  next 
spring,  on  the  election  day,  old  Sprowler  and  his 
boys  will  come  up  missing ;  or  else  they  will  give  a 
lift  to  the  man  that  raises  the  Spanish  mixtures. 

" '  I  am  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and  if  there  is  any 
truth  in  my  old  heart,  I  intend  to  die  one,  but  I  never 
intend  to  vote  for  a  man,  who  makes  me  count  my 
chickens  before  they  hatch.  By  the  way,  talking 
about  politics,  reminds  me  of  meeting  with  old  crop- 
eared  Swyburg,  the  other  day,  down  on  the  pike.  I 


94          LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

used  to  know  the  old  fellow  some  years  ago,  lie  was 
called  a  proper  man  then,  and  was  as  good  a  demo 
crat  as  ever  voted  for  Jackson;  so,  says  I  to  him, 
"  Come  ride  up  with  me,  and  spend  the  night,  and 
we  will  have  a  long  talk  about  old  times,  and  politics; 
I  want  to  hear  you  talk  on  that  subject."  "  It  would 
do  me  good,"  said  he.  "  Sprowl,  you  know  I  am,  and 
always  was  a  candid  man ;  so  I  now  say  to  you  that 
the  scales  have  at  last  fallen  from  my  eyes ;  I  am  no 
longer  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party — I  am 
proud  to  say,  I  am  now  an  American."  "  Bothera 
tion,"  says  I,  "  aint  you  always  been  an  American  ? 
wan't  you  bora  here  ?  I  always  thought  that  Ameri 
cans  were  the  very  men  to  be  Democrats."  "  But," 
said  he,  "  a  new  party  has  recently  sprung  up,  a  con 
servative,  a  Union-loving,  Union-saving  party,  called 
the  American  party,  by  some  called  the  Know 
Nothing  party."  "  Well,"  said  I,  "  Swy,  if  you  have 
joined  that  nasty,  nigger-stealing  concern,  which  ris 
up  yonder  at  the  North,  among  the  abolitionists,  I  re- 
retract  my  invitation  to  you  to  call  at  my  house.  My 
house  is  humble,  but  an  honest  man  lives  there,  one 
that  ain't  going  to  turn  traitor  to  his  good  old  mother 
State,  this  blessed  old  Virginia  State,  as  you  have  done. 
Go  your  ways,  old  fellow,  and  I  hope  God  will  give 
you  time  to  repent  of  this  your  great  misdeed ;"  and 
saying  this,  I  left  him  to  go  his  journey. 

"The  old  man  having  thus  delivered  himself,  you 
can  imagine  I  was  set  back  some;  from  what  I  had 
heard,  I  had  counted  largely  on  him,  and  was  pre 
pared  to  make  a  higher  bid  than  a  setting  of  Shang 
hai  eggs,  but  I  concluded,  after  this,  that  it  would  be 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN  VIRGINIA.         95 

useless  to  make  that  bid  ;  so  I  ordered  my  horse,  and 
rode  back  to  town,  feeling,  probably,  as  much  like  a 
fool  as  it  is  possible  for  a  smart  man  to  feel.  But  this 
evening  I  called  on  the  keeper  of  the  other  tavern 
here,  and,  as  the  boy  said  of  his  sweetheart,  he,  after 
a  few  moments  conversation,  'promised  to  be  mine;' 
he  has  put  me  upon  the  track  of  several  others,  and 
he  thinks  we  can  start  a  very  respectable  little  lodge 
here,  notwithstanding  the  fixture  in  the  vacant  lot. 
You  shall  hear  from  me  soon,  and  I  hope  then  to  be 
able  to  impart  better  tidings. 
"  Yours  truly, 

"  H.  URIAH  HAWKS." 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Fox,  finishing  the  letter,  "I  will 
trouble  you  with  no  more  letters  to-night.  You  have 
been  to  the  party,  I  suppose ;  did  you  see  my  fair 
relation  there,  old  Bell's  daughter,  Fannie,  my  niece  ? 
Come,  boy,  did  you  see  her  ?  make  her  acquaintance, 
and  fall  desperately  in  love  with  her  ?  Something 
more  than  usual  is  the  matter  with  you.  Come,  tell 
me ;  was  Fannie  there  ?" 

"A  Miss  Bell  was  there,  but  I  did  not  know  she 
was  a  niece  of  yours ;  I  never  heard  you  speak  of  the 
family." 

"  No,  you  never  did.  I  had  no  good  to  speak  of 
rny  brother-in-law,  so  I  have  been  silent  as  to  him 
and  his.  But  his  daughter  is  a  pretty  girl,  amiable, 
and  of  a  lovely  disposition ;  but — I  hope  you  have 
not  lost  your  heart  with  her  ?  Maurice,  let  her  alone ; 
stifle,  at  once,  any  tender  feelings  you  at  first  sight 
may  have  entertained  for  her.  I  am  prompted  in 
this  advice  from  no  hostile  feelings  I  entertain  for 


96          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

her  father.  As  the  world  goes,  he  is  a  high-minded, 
honorable  man;  one  act  of  his  alienated  me  from 
him,  it  was,  too,  an  act  most  men  would  not  con 
demn.  Take  my  advice,  and  think  not  of  Fannie. 
Ask  me  not  why  I  say  this,  for  I  will  not  tell  you. 
I  speak  to  you  as  a  friend,  and  if  you  do  not  take  it, 
may  live  to  wish  you  had."  And  saying  this,  Mr. 
Fox  left  the  house. 

"Humph!"  said  the  young  man  soliloquizing, 
"  I  think  I  have  made  a  pretty  fool  of  myself.  Why 
did  I  not  flatly  deny  Fox's  premises,  and  then  I 
would  not  have  heard  his  unhappy  conclusion.  He 
assumed  that  I  had  surrendered  my  heart,  and  then 
drew  his  conclusions  that  I  would  repent  it.  Ah !  I 
understand  it.  I  betrayed  myself  at  the  mention  of 
her  name.  Unhappy  man;  is  this  the  beginning  of 
love!  But  I  will  pay  no  attention  to  his  prating; 
unworthy  of  the  man  to  vent  the  spleen  he  does  not 
seek  to  conceal  against  father,  upon  the  innocent, 
unoffending  daughter.  I  will  apparently  take  his 
advice,  while  this  throbbing  heart  shall  be  my 
monitor,  and  tell  me  whom  to  love  and  who  to  woo ; 
a  whisper  came  forth,  saying  love  now,  woo  Fannie. 
Will  I  marry  her?" 

But  the  heart  oracle  gave  no  satisfactory  response; 
hope  and  fear  equally  poised  the  beam  which  rested 
on  his  new  born  affection,  and  which  would  pre 
ponderate,  he  could  not  tell.  When  he  thought  of 
Fox's  advice,  fear  would  press  the  balance  low,  and 
hope  would  fly  away.  When  he  thought  of  Fannie, 
as  he  saw  her,  hope  got  the  better  of  its  adversary 
and  the  balance  changed  and  changed. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.          97 

"I  begun  a  mind-picture,  as  I  entered  to-night, 
which  Fox  dispelled  with  his  confounded  documents; 
'tis  late,  but  I  must  pursue  it  further  'ere  I  sleep.  I 
will  go  to  sleep  just  as  I  finish  the  picture,  and  then 
come  delicious  dreams." 

He  then  took  up  the  thread  of  his  mind- work,  at 
the  point  it  was  broken  off,  and  traced  his  sketch  of 
future  joys.  He  made  life  a  paradise,  and  in  all  his 
wanderings,  Fannie  was  at  his  side ;  should  fame  be 
his,  she  should  share  all  its  immortal  glories  with 
him ;  should  wealth  be  his,  that  wealth  should  be  at 
her  command,  and  minister  to  all  her  fancies.  He 
saw  no  dark  spot  in  all  that  paradise;  skies  were 
always  bright,  happiness,  contentment,  love  and 
peace  were  always  present  there.  With  him,  fame 
and  Fannie  should  walk  hand-in-hand ;  higher  and 
higher  he  mounted,  and  Fannie  was  beside  him ;  at 
last  he  reached  the  topmost  round,  and  there  nations 
beheld  him,  and  blessed  his  name,  and  Fannie 
embraced  him. 

His  picture  was  finished.  Man  can  ask  for  nothing 
more,  I  am  content ;  and  then  he  dozed,  and  wel 
comed  sleep,  and  hoped  for  happy  dreams ;  but  just 
then  the  words  "  Let  her  alone !"  came  unbidden  into 
his  mind,  grating  on  his  soul,  and  tearing  his  rain 
bow-picture  into  atoms,  and,  in  the  hurly  burly, 
Fannie  wedded  another — fame  foundered  in  ignoble 
mediocrity — his  paradise  changed  to  earth,  and  time, 
as  he  traveled  the  world  alone,  seeking  for  peace  and 
rest,  but  finding  none,  cursed  his  unhappy  lot,  and 
fell  asleep. 

9 


98          LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MAURICE  arose  the  next  morning  restless  and  weary, 
after  a  troubled  night.  He  tried  to  forget  himself  in 
business,  and  attacked  vigorously  the  most  difficult 
cases  on  his  catalogue  of  causes,  but  found  after 
a  while  that  he  could  make  no  headway,  and  aban 
doned  his  books  and  papers  for  reveries.  Several 
days  passed  in  this  way,  when  finally,  on  a  bright 
afternoon,  he  determined  to  call  upon  Fannie,  hoping 
to  find  some  relief  for  his  troubled  spirit,  and  in  her 
presence  at  least,  forget  the  words,  "Let  her  alone." 

During  this  interval,  he  several  times  was  on  the 
point  of  going  to  Mr.  Fox,  and  beseech  of  him  an 
explanation  to  the  mysterious  words.  Fox  was  hjs 
best  friend,  and  why  should  he  seek  to  avoid  a  con 
nection  with  his  neice,  unless  there  was  some  good 
cause? 

He  said  she  was  a  lovely,  amiable,  sweet-tempered 
girl,  that  her  father  was  honorable,  &c.,  but  then,  he 
said,  ask  me  not  why  I  advise  you  thus — I  will  never 
tell  you.  My  approaching  him  on  the  subject  would 
be  betraying  too  much;  I  will  let  him  alone  and  go  to 
Fannie,  and  in  time  my  wits  will  detect  the  mystery. 
It  may  be  that  he  knows  of  her  betrothal  to  another. 
If  so,  why  did  he  not  say  so,  and  no  more,  as  we  say 
in  the  lodge ;  at  any  rate,  the  development  will  come 
in  time,  and  I  will  patiently  await  it,  without  harass 
ing  my  heart  to  pieces  with  all  kinds  of  surmises, 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

rational  and  irrational.  And  now  for  visit  number 
one. 

He  forthwith  proceeded  to  her  father's  house,  and 
was  somewhat,  yea,  greatly,  disappointed,  when  told 
by  the  servant  that  "  Miss  Fannie  was  not  in."  As 
Maurice  returns  home,  we  will  trace  Fannie's  steps, 
and  see  what  she  is  about,  and  why  she  was  not  in, 
for  Mr.  Meredith's  accommodation. 

This  evening,  about  an  hour  previous,  Fannie,  with 
bonnet  and  shawl  on,  and  with  a  neat  basket  with  a 
snow-white  napkin  over  it,  hanging  on  her  arm,  was 
just  making  her  exit  out  of  the  front  door,  when  she 
was  met  by  a  visitor.  This  visitor  was  a  young  gen 
tleman,  a  very  old  acquaintance,  and  one  of  her  most 
devoted  admirers ;  who,  if  report  be  true,  had  been  in 
love  with  her  for  many  a  day,  and,  some  said,  had 
met  with  more  refusals  than  one ;  however  this  may 
be,  he  was  still  very  attentive.  He,  too,  was  a  lawyer, 
having  but  recently  come  to  the  bar.  Although  a  man 
of  most  excellent  sense,  it  was  regarded  by  many  as 
doubtful  whether  he  would  succeed  at  his  profession, 
as  he  was  supposed  to  be  minus  one  essential — apti 
tude  to  business.  He  was  the  very  soul  of  chivalry  ; 
honest  to  the  square  which  blind  old  Justice  marks 
down  for  those  who  follow  her  ways,  and  with  all,  just 
such  a  Democrat  as  old  Virginia  delights  to  raise  and 
cherish  on  her  soil. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Dew,"  said  Fannie,  "  I  do  not  intend 
that  you  shall  diappoint  me,  just  go  in  the  house  and 
entertain  the  drowsy  old  folks  until  I  return,  I  will 
come  back  soon." 

"  Give  me  no  such  command,  if  you  please,  Miss 


100       LIFE   AtfL>   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

Fannie;  let, me  accompany  you;  the  old  folks  can 
take  care  of  Themselves,  and  I  will  take  care  of  you." 

"  Come,  then-^-but  stop,  you  must  promise  to  enter 
into  the  spirit  of  m^iLmission,  else  you  cannot  go." 

"  I  promise,"  was  i^e  hasty  rejoinder. 

"And  now,"  continV^d  Fannie,  "to  save  a  good 
many  enquiries  from  y<^Las  to  what  this  basket  con 
tains,  where  I  am  going,^kd  what  for,  I  will  tell  you. 
To  tell  the  truth,  I  had  rather  you  had  not  met  me 
this  evening,  for  such  devas  as  this  lose  half  their 
pleasantness  to  me  when  I  an^  detected ;  but  you  won't 
speak  of  it,  will  you  ?" 

"  No,  never — but  go  on  and  tell  me." 

"  Well,  there  is  a  poor  invalid  girl  down  at  Mrs. 
O'Neal's,  who  sometimes  sews  for  mother — a  sister  of 
her's,  who  has  just  come  to  this  country ;  she  was  in 
feeble  health,  and  the  voyage  has  worsted  her  con 
siderably.  She,  poor  thing,  tells  a  pitiable  tale  of  her 
sorrowings  and  desolations  in  the  old  country.  She 
is  young,  and  to  have  suffered  so  much !  It  was  sad 
to  hear  her  tell  of  her  heart-yearnings  to  reach  her 
sister,  her  toils  and  struggles  to  lay  top  just  enough  to 
bring  her  hither  ;  and  then  she  speaks  so  feelingly  of 
the  opinions  she  had  formed  of  our  happy  country, 
and  the  hope  that  buoyed  up  her  fainting  spirits,  as 
she  launched  on  the  deep  blue  sea^^looked  towards 
America  as  the  promised  land  of^Rter  Says  to  her, 
as  it  has  been  to  so  many  of  the  hapless  sons  and 
daughters  of  old  Ireland.  And  then  she  is  so  grateful 
for  the  little  services  I  render  her,  and  calls  me  her 
protector  in  a  stranger  land.  Her  old  sister  is  good 
and  kind  to  her,  but  she,  poor  woman,  can't  do  much. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       10x 

I  have  visited  her  several  times,  and  taken  with  me, 
as  to-day,  this  little  basket  of  palatable  food.  I  baked 
these  cakes  and  made  all  these  little  nick-nacks  with 
my  own  hands,  for  the  poor  Irish  girl.  I  don't  tell 
you  this  to  sound  my  praises, , or  ask  you  to  bestow 
yours,  but  that  you  may  avail  yourself  of  the  exam 
ple,  if  worthy  of  your  notice,  and  in  turn  grant  some 
thing  of  your  living  to  some  weary  and  worked 
wanderer  from  his  fatherland. 

"  Did  the  world  know  that  I  assisted  this  unhappy 
girl,  there  are  those  who  would  say  uncharitable 
things  of  me ;  such,  for  instance,  as  she  does  it  to  be 
talked  about ;  she  wants  to  be  thought  very  charita 
ble;  she  has  her  eye  probably  fixed  upon  some  pious 
young  man.  But  her  fancy  is  singular  enough ;  why 
did  she  not  select  some  poor  native  girl  ?  there  are 
enough,  far  more  objects  of  charity  than  that  rough, 
coarse,  foreign  dame,  that  ought  this  moment  be 
down  on  her  knees  scrubbing  floors  for  some  gentle 
man's  wife.  Let  the  world  talk,  and  say  as  many  ill 
things  as  it  pleases;  that  does  not  lessen  our  moral 
obligation  to  soothe  misery  ;  and  as  to  the  question  of 
nativity,  that  binds  our  charity  to  a  given  compassj 
while  humanity  knows  no  bounds,  but  carries  us  to 
the  uttermost  ends  of  the  earth,  and  bids  us  be  kind 
to  the  afflicted,  of  whatever  name  or  clime." 

Before  her  companion  had  time  to  reply,  they  had 
reached  the  humble  abode  of  the  sufferer,  but  his 
sympathies  were  wrought  upon,  as  was  sufficiently 
evinced  by  his  handing  a  gold  coin  to  Fannie,  with 
the  request  that  it  should  be  appropriated  to  the 
wants  of  the  invalid  girl.  "  And  now,"  said 

9* 


102       LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

the  door,  "  as  the  family  may  not  be  pre 
pared  to  entertain  gentlemen  visitors,  if  you  intend 
returning  with  me,  just  go  over  to  the  book-store, 
opposite,  and  entertain  yourself,  while  I  tarry  here 
but  a  little  while ;  you  will  see  me  as  I  come  out." 

He  walked  over  to  the  store,  and  who  should  he  find 
there,  engaged  in  looking  over  the  periodicals,  but 
Maurice  Meredith?  The  gentlemen  were  but  slightly 
acquainted,  having  met  but  the  single  time,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  party  before  alluded  to,  when  they 
were  introduced  by  Fannie.  A  mutual  recognition 
passed,  each  regarding  the  other  as  a  rival,  as  if  by 
instinct  or  intuition,  and  each  was  prompted,  by  that 
very  natural  feeling  so  often  exhibited  by  rivals,  to 
become  acquainted.  It  certainly  is  not  any  peculiar 
good  will  or  sympathy,  that  draws  two  men  thus  cir 
cumstanced  together.  It  must  proceed,  then,  from 
the  desire  of  each  to  sound  his  opponent's  depth,  test 
his  capabilities,  weigh  him  in  his  own  balance,  the 
better  to  decide  in  his  own  mind  whether  his  com 
petitor  in  the  mystic  arts  of  love,  is  likely  to  prove 
the  better  of  the  two.  And  if  they  be  perfect  stran 
gers,  it  is  a  singular  fact  that,  in  nine  times  out  of 
ten,  the  first  interview  will  terminate  with  the  honest 
conviction  on  the  mind  of  each  that  the  other  is  per 
haps  the  biggest  fool  he  ever  met ;  such  is  the  prone- 
ness  of  human  nature  to  decide  matters  as  we  would 
wish  them  to  be.  But  from  the  very  spirited  and 
animated  conversation  which  folio we<Jfljlie  few  intro 
ductory  commonplace  remarks,  they  could  hardly 
have  formed  such  an  estimate  of  each  other.  The 
subject  was  politics,  and  each  strove  his  uttermost 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF    SAM    IX    VIRGINIA.        103 

to  maintain  his  point.  Bystanders  collected,  and 
were  deeply  interested  in  the  controversy,  whra6hjffl| 
cut  short  before  they  had  decided  to  which  they 
should  award  the  palm  of  v-ictory,  by  the  appearance 
of  Fannie  on  the  opposite  sidewalk,  to  whom  Mr. 
Dew  at  once  hastened,  saying,  as  he  arose,  "  A  lady 
awaits  my  attendance,  and  you  must  excuse  me  from 
farther  debate  on  this  occasion.  At  another  time  I 
will  be  most  happy  to  renew  the  discussion ;  that  is, 
if  you  don't  see  the  folly  of  Know  Nothingism  before 
I  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  you  again,  and 
thus  terminate  the  friendly  controversy,  by  acquies 
cing  in  all  the  arguments  I  may  be  enabled  to  ad 
vance,  in  proof  of  the  honesty,  wisdom,  and  patriot 
ism  of  the  principles,  as  held  by  the  democracy  of 
Virginia." 

"  Possibly,  concluded  Maurice,  "  I  shall  not  have 
the  good  fortune  to  meet  with  another  so  capable  of 
enlightening  me  as  yourself,  so  in  all  probability,  my 
opinions  will  not  be  changed  when  we  meet  again ; 
and  I  will  then  gladly  hear  you  to  the  end  of  your 
chapter  on  democracy.  But  I  excuse  you  now,  and 
turn  you  over  to  a  more  agreeable  subject,  one  far 
more  interesting  to  bachelors  like  ourselves  than  the 
one  under  present  discussion."  He  did  not  know, 
when  he  made  this  closing  remark,  that  the  subject 
which  he  turned  his  acquaintance  over  to  was  one 
of  peculiar  interest  to  himself. 

He  did  not1  know  that  the  lady  who  claimed  Mr. 
DJW'S  attendance,  was  the  idol  of  all  his  worshipings; 
and  more  than  this,  he  was  ignorant  of  the  fact  that 
his  disappointment  in  not  finding  her  at  home,  was 


104       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

occasioned  by  her  errand  of  love  and  charity  to  the 
stricken  one,  reared  as  she  was  on  Irish  soil,  reared 
in  the  Romish  Church ;  had  he  known  it,  how  would 
he  have  felt  ?  what  would  he  have  thought  ?  He 
was  one  of  the  midnight  plotters,  one  of  the  crusaders, 
working  in  darkness  and  in  mystery,  and  sworn  to 
crush,  politically,  the  Irish  and  the  Catholic,  sworn 
to  rob  them  of  the  only  voice  which  can  beget  a 
lively  and  abiding  interest  in  the  land  of  their 
adoption. 

Surely,  young  man,  you  are  now  working  in  the 
dark.  But  work  on ;  we  shall  see  what  it  will  all 
come  to.  Curse  the  Irish — damn  the  Catholic.  Your 
idol,  Fannie — she,  too,  is  working  in  the  dark  ;  but  it 
is  the  darkness  which  modesty  throws  around  brave 
and  generous  deeds;  the  darkness  which  the  Bible 
principle  directs  us  to  follow  in  doing  alms. 

Happily  for  the  young  man,  he  did  not  know  of 
Fannie's  mission,  nor  she  of  his  political  principles ; 
but  surely,  he  could  not  condemn  her  for  a  deed  ot 
charity  !  Oh,  no !  it  would  but  commend  her  highly 
to  his  esteem,  was  the  object  only  worthy,  and  her 
charity  not  misdirected.  Alas !  though,  he  curses  the 
Irish,  and  he  damns  the  Catholic.  The  poor  girl  that 
Fanaie  nursed  so  kindly  was  the  one  and  the  other, 
so  the  object  was  unworthy  and  the  charity  misdi 
rected  ;  and  it  was  well  for  his  peace  of  mind  that  her 
light,  which  so  beautifully  shines  to  truly  American 
senses,  was,  to  his  American  eyes,  hid  under  a 
bushel. 

The  conversation  he  had  held  with  Mr.  Dew  was 
not  calculated  to  quiet  the  rising  fears,  already  begin- 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.       105 

ning  to  intrude  themselves  in  his  serene  moments,  that 
he  might  find  him  no  easy  rival  in  the  suit  for  Fan- 
nie's  love.  He  had  met  him  in  warm  debate,  they 
had  drawn  their  weapons  and  stood  face  to  face  in 
trial  controversy,  and  the  bright  scintillations  emitted 
by  the  clash  of  argument's  piercing  dagger,  told  him 
that  he  struck  against  true  steel.  This  Know-Nothing 
young  man  was  now  most  unquiet ;  what  to  do  with 
himself,  how  to  while  away  the  slow  pacing  moments 
he  knew  not.  His  lodge  met  to-night,  should  he  go 
there,  and  participate  in  the  interesting  performances 
enacted  a  way  down  in  the  culvert  ?  Yes,  away  down 
in  the  culvert,  where  burned  the  dark  lantern,  sur 
rounded  by  spirits  of  unrest  and  discontentment — 
spirits  of  every  hue  and  color;  some  from  innate 
malice,  native  meanness  of  heart,  went  there,  to  vent 
their  malevolence  on  the  unoffending  stranger  from 
his  foreign  home ;  others  went  there  in  whose  hearts 
rankled  and  festered  the  wounds  of  disappointed  party 
honors  or  emoluments ;  'some  went  there  to  get  the 
honors  soon  to  blush  forth  from  the  new  party's  prison- 
house  ;  others  went  there,  thinking  by  stealth  to  gain 
the  long-enjoyed  glories  of  Virginia's  dominant  party ; 
some  went  there  for  the  most  excusable  purpose  that 
can  be  mentioned,  the  bare  curiosity  of  seeing  the 
great  Sam,  or  Samuel  the  Great.  But  not  one, 
wounded  of  heart  by  capricious  Cupid's  dart,  went 
there  to  find  his  Lethean  stream — so  Maurice  did  not 
go,  though  he  was  expected  to  harangue  Sam's  boys 
on  this  occasion,  and  make  the  very  lantern's  light 
grow  paler  still  with  the  vivid  flashes  of  his  eloquence. 
He  determined  not  to  go  for  three  reasons :  first, 


106       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

because  a  man  in  his  situation  likes  at  all  times  to  be 
prim  in  apparel  and  of  genteel  appearance,  which 
would  surely  be  sacrificed  in  the  Culvert  Hall. 
Secondly,  the  secrecy  of  the  culvert  doings  forbid  the 
idea  that  his  Fannie  would  ever  hear  of  it,  even 
should  he  there  distinguish  himself,  and  what  cared 
he  for  fame  that  did  not  tend  towards  the  consumma 
tion  of  his  dearest  wish.  Could  she  be  there  to  hear 
him,  and  to  see  him,  and  to  sympathize  with  him — ah ! 
he  knows  not  that  she  is  the  friend  of  the  Irish  and 
the  Catholic.  Thirdly,  because  to  a  man  already 
threatened  with  forebodings  of  melancholy,  the  idea 
of  a  culvert  suggests  the  most  unflattering  prospect 
of  relief.  The  argument  he  had  held  with  Mr.  Dew 
had  only  aroused  his  feelings  in  the  Know  Nothing 
cause,  but  yet,  for  the  reasons  stated,  he  did  not  attend 
the  meeting  of  the  lodge  that  night,  but  retired  to  his 
office,  to  yawn,  to  try  to  think,  to  try  to  read,  to 
indulge  his  growing  habit  of  day-dreams,  and  to  call 
up  his  ideal  picture  from  the  past,  and  compare  its 
lineaments  with  Fannie's  real  charms  and  beauties. 

He  was  doing,  or  trying  to  do,  all  these  things  at 
the  same  time,  when  his  door  opened  to  admit  a  ser 
vant,  the  bearer  of  an  invitation  to  him  to  spend  that 
evening  at  the  house  of  a  friend.  The  bearer  of  the 
invitation  was  an  old  negro  slave,  pretty  well  known 
about  town,  and  well  thought  of  for  his  polite  bearing 
and  good  reputation  for  honesty;  but  somewhat 
spoiled  by  the  notice  taken  of  him  by  young  gentle 
men,  who  frequently  amused  themselves  by  giving  him 
the  opportunity  to  show  off  his  learning. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIKGESTIA.       107 

"  Well,  old  Sip,"  said  Maurice,  laying  aside  the 
invitation,  "  is  it  a  large  party  at  your  house  to-night?" 

"No,  massa,  rather  specks  not,  but  few  of  de 
ladies  and  gemmen,  sir,  and  massa  hopes  you  will  be 
'eluded  in  de  number.  Massa  has  extended  de  invi 
tation  to  some  few  more  young  gentlemen  'sides 
yourself,  sir,  but  I  specks  dey  wont  all  be  dare,  for 
dis  is  de  night  for  de  meeting  of  de  fraternity,  and 
dar  is  no  telling  who  belongs  to  dat  crowd  dese  days 
and  times." 

"To  what  fraternity  do  you  allude  ?" 

"  Dey  is  called,  sir,  by  mor'n  several  collusions :  as 
instance,  'Mericans,  Know  Nuttings,  and  Sams.  I 
hopes  mars  will  'scuse  me,  but  I  hope  I  may  say  you 
aint  one  of  dat  dark  crowd  ;  for  it  don't  'pear  honest 
and  'spectable-like  to  me,  and  I  heard  my  master  say 
dey  wan't  to  be  trusted,  and  dat  dey  was  danger's.  I 
know  you  ain't  one,  'cause  I  would  not  talk  dis  way 
'bout  'em,  if  you  was." 

"  But  how  do  you  know  they  meet  to-night  ?" 

"  'Cause,  massa,  colored  folks  knows  heap  of  things 
that  white  gentlemen  don't  'quire  into  and  notice  ;  on 
dis  very  night  ob  every  week,  I  meets  'em  late  gwine 
'long  some  whar,  and  I  has  reasoned  'bout  de  matter, 
and  'eluded  dey  was  de  'Mericans." 

"  What  is  the  object  of  this  fraternity,  as  you  call 
it,  do  you  suppose  ?" 

"  I  has  no  way  knowing  much ;  I  gits  all  my 
learning  from  mars,  and  de  gentlemen  dat  holds 
argumentations  wid  him ;  and  it  'pears  to  me,  from 
what  dey  say,  dat  it  is  de  politics  of  de  state  dey  are 
arter.  Marster  says  dey  is  aiding  de  Yankees  in  all 


108       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA. 

dar  doings,  and  dat  is  what  has  set  me  agin  'em  in 
particular,  for  to  tell  de  truf,  sir,  I  don't  like  de 
Yankees  no  how  ;  I  sorter  'spises  'em.  Dey  ain't 
gentle  folks  like  you  all  down  at  de  souf,  no  how, 
and  I  don't  like  to  have  nutting  to  do  wid  'em  mor'n 
possible.  My  private  opinion  is,  dat  dat  quality  of 
peoples  called  de  Yankee  nation,  ain't  so  fond  of  us 
poor  niggers  as  dey  makes  out  dey  are ;  for  instance, 
marster,  take  dem  dat  comes  'mongst  us — dey  is 
mighty  polite  and  gentle  to  de  colored  folks  at  first, 
but  arter  dey  has  bin  here  awhile,  sure  massa  dey 
turns  to  de  very  debble,  and  treats  de  poor  nigger 
bad  sure.  I  has  noticed  all  dis  by  'sperience,  and 
dat  makes  me  know  it  are  a  fact.  I  has  heard  my 
young  marster  at  home,  read  a  heap  from  a  book 
writ  by  one  north  woman  name  Miss  Stowe,  and  it 
am  perfectly  plain  to  my  'magination  dat  dat  are 
white  woman  was  a  real,  genuine  Know  Nutting^  on 
de  subject  she  writ  on.  I  has  had  a  heap  to  do  wid 
niggers  in  my  life-time,  and  I  ain't  ever  seed  any 
Uncle  Tom  or  any  'Liza  yet;  or  has  any  of  the  bad 
treatment  she  writ  about,  ever  come  under  my 
observation." 

"  Well,"  said  Maurice,  laughing,  "  we  will  have  no 
more  of  de  politics  to-night,  but  go  on  and  tell  what 
young  ladies  will  be  at  the  party." 

"  'Scuse  me,  massa,  but  'taint  no  party.  Mistis 
says  folks  must  not  think  'tis  a  party,  but  just  a 
sociable  gathering  together  of  elect,  fuss  choice,  big 
bugs  of  de  place.  You  see,  young  mistus,  she  sent 
me  wid  a  note  to  de  young  lady  what  has  recently 
arriv  from  de  country  to  dis  town;  her  father  is 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       109 

'mazing  rich,  one  of  the  real  old  Virginny  upper  tens, 
and  his  daughter  is  the  beautifullest  young  lady  sure, 
and  old  Sip  longs  that  young  master  at  home  would 
just  connect  in  that  ar  prime  family ;  dat  young  lady, 
Miss  Fannie  Bell,  is  de  name,  and  several  others,  or 
more,  will  be  dare  to-night.  Master  will  'spect  Mars 
Maurice,"  and  so  saying,  the  old  fellow  went  his 
way. 

Maurice  felt,  on  the  reception  of  this  intelligence, 
that  fortune  for  once  was  favoring  him,  so  he  did  his 
toilet  with  more  than  usual  care,  was  actually  punc 
tilious  to  a  hair's  breadth  in  arranging  his  locks,  and 
scrupulously  exact  in  the  tie  of  his  cravat.  At  the 
proper  time  the  young  man  obeyed  the  summons 
contained  in  the  writ  old  Scip  had  served  upon  him, 
and  forthwith  proceeded  to  the  house  of  his  friend. 
He  found  the  company  already  assembled.  On  enter 
ing  the  parlor  he  recognized  Fannie,  and  sitting  by 
her,  oblivious  of  his  entrance,  and  apparently  all 
absorbed  in  something  she  was  saying  to  him,  was 
his  friend  of  the  book-store  controversy.  His  first 
impulse  was  that  he  would  like  to  serve  an  ejectment 
upon  him,  and  land  him  in  the  street  or  some  where 
on  "t'other  side  of  Jordan,"  or  at  any  rate  serve  upon 
him  an  injunction  against  any  further  proceedings  in 
that  direction.  Fannie  was  looking,  he  thought,  by 
the  furtive  glances  he  now  and  then  stole,  more 
beautiful,  more  bewitching  than  ever.  Again  he 
was  sorely  perplexed  in  spirit ;  always  some  difficulty 
presented  itself  betwixt  him  and  Fannie;  he  but 
wished  to  enjoy  her  conversation,  but  when  he  called 
upon  her  she  was  out ;  when  he  found  her  in  the 

10 


110       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

social  circle  tier  company  was  monopolized,  and 
when  he  met  his  best  friend  he  was  told  to  "  let  her 
alone."  He  spent  a  short  time  in  passing  compli 
ments  with  the  other  ladies  present,  and  then  resolved 
to  draw  a  halt  in  Fannie's  immediate  vicinity,  and 
by  laying  a  siege  for  the  evening,  drive  the  enemy 
from  his  pleasant  retreat.  He  forthwith  began  his 
task  with  commendable  energy,  and  soon  succeeded 
in  almost  monopolizing  her  conversation,  but  to  no 
purpose — the  implacable  young  man  held  his  ground, 
apparently  perfectly  satisfied  with  getting  in  a  word 
"  edge-ways  "  now  and  then.  At  last  despairing  of 
getting  rid  of  his  rival  in  any  other  way,  he  resorted 
to  stratagem,  and  requested  Fannie  to  sing,  who, 
without  any  whimperings  and  affected  excuses,  so 
common  now-a-days,  arose  and  was  conducted  single- 
handed  to  the  piano  by  Maurice, — so  Mr.  Dew  was 
left  behind  to  join  another  group,  if  he  desired.  She 
was  an  accomplished  performer  and  a  most  admirable 
singer.  The  young  man  stood  by  her  side,  grave 
and  motionless,  as  the  mellow  notes  gushed,  as  it 
were,  from  a  living  fountain  of  music  waves,  and 
trembled  on  the  still  air. 

His  soul  revelled  in  the  flowing  feast,  and  rode 
upon  the  music  tones  as  they  died  away  in  the  dis 
tance.  He '  called  the  blessed  moment  bliss,  and 
desired  nothing  more.  If  he  was  in  love  before, 
there  is  no  term  to  express  his  situation  after  the 
several  songs  were  sung. 

They  then  promenaded  in  the  hall,  and  for  the  first 
time  he  was  alone  with  her.  Lovers  do  so  like  to  be 
alone,  there  is  something  in  the  presence  of  others  so 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       Ill 

embarrassing;  one  can't  look  in  company  as  he  would 
like  to;  can't  act  his  winning  ways,  and  can't  adapt 
his  tones  to  the  feelings  of  his  heart.  Maurice  felt 
all  this,  and  felt  the  freedom  of  being  alone.  He 
thought  he  acted  well  his  part — gave  her  credit  for 
hers,  and  concluded  when  the  walk  was  terminated, 
that  he  was  getting  along  as  well  as  he  could  hope; 
that  there  was  nothing  at  all  in  the  bear  bones  his 
friend  Fox  had  endeavored  to  raise  between  them; 
that  he  didn't  fear  his  rival,  Mr.  Dew,  at  all,  and  that 
it  would  all  progress  well,  and  end  well ;  at  any  rate, 
he  had  good  cause  to  rely  on  the  same  old  buoy  that 
had  saved  many  a  lover's  head  from  the  dark  sea  of 
despond;  the  little  quivering  buoy,  sometimes  faint 
and  almost  cowardly,  at  others  strong  and  bold,  called 
hope.  Well,  hope  on,  hope  ever,  'tis  a  good  motto. 

We  will  leave  Maurice  to  indulge  his  hope  alone, 
and  to  the  conduct  of  his  own  personal  suit  for  awhile, 
and  look  after  our  Council  boys,  and  the  canvassers  of 
the  mountains,  and  other  matters. 


112       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XHL 

THE  Democracy  of  Virginia  had  now  met  in  conven 
tion,  and  nominated  their  candidates  for  the  several 
State  offices  to  be  vacant  on  the  expiration  of  the 
official  terms  of  the  incumbents.  The  ticket  was,  all 
in  all,  a  good  and  an  unexceptionable  one;  true 
and  tried  men  composed  it;  the  party  at  once,  in  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  State  approved  it.  But  of 
the  man  they  selected  as  champion — leader; — of  the 
veteran  hero,  on  whose  credit  was  placed  the  shield 
of  battle,  and  of  whom  it  was  expected,  would  at  all 
times  be  found  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight — what 
must  be  said  of  him?  Must  this  feeble  pen  dare 
attempt  to  draw  but  a  faint  picture  of  the  noble 
conduct  pursued  by  the  heroic  leader  of  the  Virginia 
Democracy  in  the  memorable  political  battle  of  1855? 
It  must,  or  else  a  history  of  the  Life  and  Death  of 
Sam  in  Virginia  would  be  incomplete. 

And  first,  did  the  distinguished  recipient  of  the 
honor,  by  word,  by  deed,  or  act,  seek  that  honor? 
Not  at  all ;  it  was  but  the  willing  tribute  of  an  appre 
ciating  people  to  the  fitness,  power,  genius,  patriotism 
and  chivalrous  spirit  of  the  man.  It  was  but  a  well- 
timed  decision  of  Virginia's  friends  for  Virginia's 
honor,  but  a  judicious  act  of  the  mother  State  for 
the  Union's  future  honor  and  glory.  How  did  he 
accept  the  honor  tendered  him  by  the  nomination — 
boastingly,  and  as  a  matter  of  right?  Not  at  all, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       113 

but  with  the  full  sense  of  the  responsibility  conveyed 
in  the  trust,  and  with  the  true  born  Virginian's  proud 
assurance,  that  if  Virginia's  interest  for  a  time  be 
committed  to  his  care,  those  interests  must  and  should 
be  protected  and  maintained. 

After  acceptance,  what  was  his  course?  Did  he 
supinely  take  his  ease,  and  trust  to  the  wonted 
strength  of  the  Democracy  to  protect  and  save  the 
State  ?  No ;  he  looked  as  with  prophetic  eye,  and 
told  of  the  struggle  that  the  enemy  would  make ;  he 
read  their  wiles,  their  falsehoods  and  chicanery  in 
the  future ;  and  with  a  zeal  worthy  of  the  cause,  pre 
pared  for  the  contest. 

But  to  follow  his  course  farther  here,  would  be  to 
anticipate  in  our  narrative. 

We  have  said,  the  ticket  was  at  once  approved  by 
the  party,  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
state ;  comparatively  speaking,  this  is  true  ;  but  here 
and  there,  the  selected  leader  found  an  enemy  in  the 
house  of  his  friends.  Who  were  these  enemies  ? 
Some  were  men  of  character,  men  beyond  the  possi 
bility  of  impeachment,  in  a  moral  or  political  aspect, 
who  honestly  and  conscientiously  objected  to  the 
selection  made,  and  who  boldly  stated  their  objections'. 
This  was  perfectly  natural,  and  to  be  expected.  Can 
mortal  man  be  found  so  varied,  in  his  virtues,  and 
yet  in  all  approach  the  perfectness,  which  many 
men,  of  many  minds,  will  lay  down  as  their  standard. 
Good  men  and  true  men  will  sometimes,  while 
sighing  over  the  disappointed  hopes  of  their  favorite, 
forget  that  there  may  be  points  of  objection  to  the 
life,  character  or  fitness  of  their  favorite  unseen  to 

10* 


114       LIFE  AND    DEATH   OF   SAM   IX    VIRGINIA. 

them,  but  visible  to  others,  and  by  this  little  piece  of 
forgetfulness  sometimes  make  their  man,  the  fit  and 
proper  man,  the  man  for  the  times,  in  conparison  with 
the  majorities'  man.  And  hence  ikis,  that  whenever 
a  nomination  is  made,  there  are  those  to  be  found 
who  honestly  differ  from  the  action  of  the  majority. 
So  it  was  in  this  case,  some  honest  men  conscien 
tiously  thought  the  nomination  bad,  and  objected  to 
it,  in  consequence  of  what,  in  their  opinion,  consti 
tuted  misdeeds,  in  the  political  career  of  the  nominee 
— others  thought  the  nomination  good,  but  still 
objected,  because  they  thought  the  best  was  not 
made.  Thus  resisting  a  positive  virtue,  because  the 
superlative,  in  their  opinion,  could  not  be  reached. 
To  one  class  or  the  other  of  such  thinkers,  for  the 
most  part,  were  found  all  those  who  honestly  ques 
tioned  the  judgment  and  wisdom  of  the  nominating 
Convention. 

But  by  far  the  larger  portion  of  objectors  was 
composed  of  far  less  respectable  material ;  the  prowling 
mass  that  hovers  over  the  surface  of  political  parties, 
and  longs  for  mincing  bits  from  the  flesh-pots  of  the 
party,  calculated  that  precious  and  dainty  morsels 
\vould  be  dealt  out  profusely,  from  the  newly  erected 
camp  of  the  Know  Nothings,  and  thought,  that  in 
the  general  feast  of  fat  things,  their  prospect  for 
something  would  be  bettered ;  and  hence  their  new 
affinities,  and  consequent  opposition  to  the  nominees 
of  the  Democracy. 

'Tis  well  now  and  then,  to  purge  a  party  of  the  filth 
that  must  and  will  accumulate  upon  it.  The  recep 
tacle,  so  generously  provided  by  the  opposition,  in 


LIFE   AND    DEATH    OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.       115 

this  instance,  was  surely  worthy  of  its  contents  that 
found  a  salubrious  home  in  the  cover  of  darkness, 
secrecy  and  plots.  The  dead-broke  political  hacks, 
already  politically  damned  and  consigned  to  the 
shades  of  home — the  hades  of  collapsed  politicians — 
were  restless  spirits,  sad  and  cheerless,  in  the  house 
of  their  friends.  If  they  looked  back  to  their  better 
days,  when  they  stood  well  with  their  friends,  or 
were  the  pride  and  admiration  of  their  approving 
constituencies,  feelings  of  melancholy  would  oppress 
them,  and  call  forth  curses  upon  the  imprudent  deed 
that  purchased  for  them  their  fall.  If  they  looked 
to  the  future,  no  ray  of  hope,  no  prospect  of  oppor 
tunity  to  regain  their  wonted  place ;  no  means  of 
self-sacrificing  devotion,  which  would  purchase  atone 
ment,  and  reinstate  the  fallen  sinner  to  the  brother 
hood  ;  hence  it  was  they  looked  for  other  and 
sympathising  friends.  Know  Nothings  were  ready 
to  embrace  them  ;  and  herein  lied  their  objection  and 
opposition  to  the  Democratic  ticket.  In  short,  who 
is  it,  that  is  at  all  conversant  with  the  history  of  the 
late  Virginia  campaign,  that  will  not  declare  that  the 
bone  and  sinew  of  the  party,  the  true  and  reliable 
men,  the  men  of  principle,  almost  as  one  man,  stood 
by  the  nominations ;  while  thoss  who  seceded  and 
objected  were  generally  men  of  opposite  character, 
who,  with  advantage,  could  well  be  spared  by  any 
honorable  party,  as  proven  by  the  unanimity  with 
which  they  esoused  the  Know  Nothing  cause  ? 

It  is  not  our  purpose,  at  this  place,  to  speak  of  the 
noble  and  patriotic  conduct  of  the  large  number  of 
the  Whig  party  who  refused  to  acquiesce  in  the  dis- 


116       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

graceful  and  unscrupulous  game  for  power  and  for 
spoils,  played  by  the  opposition ;  who  ignored  their 
schemes,  their  purposes,  and  the  means  employed — 
who  had  the  wisdom  to  calculate  the  injury  the 
organization  would  work  to  the  South  and  the  Union 
— who  had  the  fortitude  to  resist  the  movement,  and 
the  moral  courage  and  patriotism  to  enroll  them 
selves  under  the  banner  of  the  Virginia  Democracy, 
This  band  of  patriotic  allies  more  than  compensated 
the  Democracy  for  the  desertion  of  the  poor  miscreants 
who  fled  from  the  lead  of  old  Accomac-'s  son,  and  hoped 
to  better  their  condition  by  being  the  enemy's  allies,  in 
the  predicted  massacre,  at  the  sacking  of  the  great  cit 
adel,  built  by  Jefferson,  and  defended  by  the  dauntless 
troops  of  the  Virginia  Democracy.  But  this  decamp 
ment,  and  this  fleeing  of  black  and  shabby  sheep,  and 
tough  and  battered  rams  from  the  Democratic  fold, 
were  food  for  the  enemy,  who  regarded  them  .as 
tender  ]ambs,  from  a  precious  flock,  pure  and  mete 
for  immolation  on  the  altar  of  their  country.  They 
embraced  them  all  with  the  generous  fraternal  hug, 
and  Tag,  Rag  and  Bobtail  found  themselves  honored 
leaders  of  the  now  degenerate  forces,  who  once  swore 
by  the  great  Clay,  fought  under  his  command,  and 
advocated  his  principles. 

It  has  been  some  time  since  we  had  a  peep  at  the 
Conncil,  so  we  will  turn  to  it,  and  see  how  the 
several  worthies  and  chief  men  of  the  secret  syna 
gogue  are  progressing. 

That  very  delectable  individual  and  scholar,  who 
received  his  education  at  a  northern  college,  and  to 
whom  belongs  the  honor  and  glory  of  introducing 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       117 

culvert  politics  in  Virginia,  Mr.  Bob  Dobby,  is  still 
the  presiding  dignity  of  the  nightly  orgies. 

Old  Captain  Swyburg,  who  left  the  Democratic 
party  in  disgust,  because  he  failed  to  procure  some 
thing  from  the.  hands  of  the  administration,  and  who 
held  an  office  in  the  Council,  is,  as  the  reader  has 
been  apprised,  canvasser  at  large  for  the  State,  and 
was  from  last  accounts  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful 
Ohio,  sojourning  for  awhile  in  and  around  the  inter 
esting  village  of  Parkersburg;  and  Mr.  Maurice 
Meredith  has  been  appointed  to  fill  his  place  in  the 
Council. 

Mr.  Jno.  James  Gustavus  Adolphus  Fox,  who 
the  reader  knows  as  the  man  of  platforms,  who  had 
been  buffeted  about  for  years  on  the  old  Whig 
platforms,  and  who  would  embrace  any  principles, 
however  obnoxious  to  southern  interests,  provided 
they  promised  to  defeat  the  Democracy,  is  still  a 
ruling  spirit  in  their  deliberations. 

Mr.  Americus  Winks,  whose  most  prominent  trait 
of  character  is  loathsome  selfishness ;  whose  heart  was 
formed  of  pigmy  proportions  on  virtue's  side,  and  of 
huge  measure  of  adamantine  cast  in  those  propensi 
ties  that  lead  to  vice ;  who  was  devoid  of  charity, 
and  without  one  drop  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness 
in  his  whole  make,  form,  composition,  and  nature ; 
and  who  despised  and  persecuted  the  friendless 
foreigners,  is  still  a  very  choice  man,  with  a  very 
choice  office  in  the  Council. 

Also,  Mr.  Cincinnatus  Pate,  that  prince  of  repro 
bates,  who  has  no  respect  for  the  divine  teachings  of 
the  Bible,  nor  any  respect  for  any  religion  founded 


118       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

upon  the  Bible,  but  yet  feared  that  the  Eoman 
Catholic  religion  would  in  time  annihilate  all  others, 
still  stands  well  with  the  members,  and  has  the  com 
mendation  of  efficiency  and  cleverness  for  his  zeal 
exhibited  in  the  prosperity  and  success  of  the  cause. 

Let  the  honest  reader  here  reflect,  and  he  will 
have  no  difficulty  in  calling  to  mind  many  Swy- 
burgs,  Foxes,  Winks  and  Pates,  who  figured  exten 
sively  on  the  Know  Nothing  arena  in  the  Virginia 
canvass  of  1855.  The  picture  is  not  overdrawn : 
the  characters  present  but  true  types  of  large  num 
bers  of  men  who  opposed  the  Democracy  at  that 
time.  A  Swyburg,  here  and  there,  felt  indignant 
because  his  self-constituted  merits  were  not  appreci 
ated  and  duly  rewarded,  and  forthwith,  in  high 
dudgeon,  bolted,  and  by  way  of  revenge,  directed 
puny  thunder  against  the  house  of  his  quondam 
friends. 

The  Foxes  were  numerous  indeed ;  in  fact,  most 
of  the  old  coons  were  converted  into  this  sly  and 
covert-seeking  animal. 

The  Winks  family  waxed  strong  in  time,  and 
many,  for  want  of  truth  and  argument  to  sustain 
them,  prated  loudly  against  foreigners. 

The  Pate  family,  too,  had  its  numbers.  As  it 
is  an  exceedingly  easy  matter  for  sinners  to  damn 
the  Pope,  these  were  the  most  prominent  of  the 
tribes  of  Know  Nothings  in  Virginia.  There  were 
many  others,  working  in  many  devious  and  winding 
ways,  all  striving  for  the  same  golden  terminus,  where 
lay  the  glittering  spoils,  buried  in  the  sepulchre  of 
the  once  powerful  Democracy. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH  OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       119 

Having  thus  paid  our  respects  to  the  several  prime 
rulers,  we  will  quite  unceremoniously,  and  without 
signal  or  pass-word,  conduct  the  reader  into  the  lodge- 
room. 

You  will,  perhaps,  at  the  thought  of  entering  such 
a  place,  experience  a  sort  of  suffocating  sensation; 
verily,  this  is  natural  enough;  but  don't  fear,  the 
place  is  offensive,  the  atmosphere  is  poisoned,  but  not 
unto  death,  to  those  who  breathe  it  through  curiosity 
only.  The  only  essential  change,  since  we  last 
entered,  is  that  there  is  a  much  larger  number  com 
muning  together  in  delightful  concert  and  brotherly 
love,  showing  that  dupes  to  the  mystic  tie  have  been 
found  in  ample  numbers  even  on  old  Virginia's 
shore. 

This  is  the  first  meeting  since  the  Democratic  nomi 
nations  were  put  forth  ;  and  now  it  was  that  the  evil 
doers  went  to  work  with  redoubled  energy,  and  the 
first  business  transaction  on  this  important  and 
interesting  occasion,  was  the  appointment  of  a  com 
mittee,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  concoct,  from  the 
generous  flowing  of  their  latitudinous  imaginations, 
long  and  ingeniously  wrought  fabrics — sometimes 
called  yarns — all  to  have  the  semblance  of  plausi 
bility,  if  not  exactly  alike  to  truth  itself,  against  the 
nominees  of  the  Staunton  Convention.  The  only 
limit  placed  upon  the  commission  being,  that  no  one 
should  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  either  of  the  gentlemen 
placed  upon  the  Democratic  ticket  had  ever  committed 
theft  or  murder,  or  that  either  had  ever  aforetime,  in 
consequence  of  any  imaginable  crime,  been  a  candi 
date  before  any  court  of  the  Commonwealth  for  a 


120       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

term  of  service  to  the  State,  in  the  house  prepared 
for  convicts.  It'  was  surely  a  magnanimous  impulse 
that  prompted  this  limit  to  the  power  of  the  com 
mission. 

In  furtherance  of  the  same  plan,  in  addition  to  the 
appointed  committee,  a  general  order  was  issued, 
declaring  that  a  gold  medal  should  be  presented  to 
the  man  who  would  concoct  the  biggest  and  most 
effective  story  against  Henry  A.  Wise. 

A  member  then  proposed  the  following  device  and 
inscription  for  the  medal:  It  should  correspond  in 
shape  with  the  geographical  outlines  of  the  thirteen 
original  States  ;  on  one  side,  E  Pluribus  Uhum,  then 
follows  the  lie  in  bold  relief;  next,  From  our  appre 
ciation  of  the  above,  this  medal  is  awarded  to 

by  his  brother  Americans  of  Lodge, 

Virginia.  On  the  other  side  a  ship  returning  to 
Europe  with  foreigners ;  a  Catholic  church  on  fire ; 
the  leader  of  the  Virginia  Democracy  down  on  his 
back,  and  a  Know  Nothing  boss  standing  over  him. 

This  proposition  led  to  considerable  discussion, 
several  gentlemen  contending  that  the  proposition  to 
inscribe  the  whole  fancy  essay  on  the  medal  was 
tempting  the  .cupidity  of  gentlemen,  inasmuch  as 
they-might  strive  to  make  the  essay — they  called  it 
essay,  as  the  rose  by  that  name  smelt  sweeter — as 
long  as  possible,  in  order  to  obtain  a  wide  surface  of 
gold.  The  advocates  met  the  objection  with  philo 
sophical  arguments  on  the  expansive  properties  of 
gold,  demonstrating  the  extraordinary  thinness  to 
which  it  could  be  hammered,  and  that  they  could  now 
agree  upon  the  value  of  the  metal  to  be  employed. 


LIFE   AXD   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       121 

The  vote  was  then  taken,  and  decided  against  the 
advocates  of  the  proposition. 

The  following  inscription  was  then  proposed  and 
adopted  unanimously  :  —  '"Americans  must  rule 

America ;'  presented  to  our  brother, in 

token  of  the  important  service  he  rendered  America 
and  America's  cause,  by  his  brother  Americans  of 

Lodge,  Virginia."  The  other  side  of  the 

medal  was  not  debated,  but  passed  as  it  came  from 
the  hands  of  the  great  designer,  and  the  medal  bill 
passed  the  Know  Nothing  assembly. 

Mr.  Americus  "Winks  then  arose,  and  said :  "  Broth 
ers  of  the  Council — however  other  gentlemen  may 
regard  the  issue,  in  my  humble  judgment  the  whole 
matter  turns  upon  one  point,  the  foreign  question.  I 
have  addressed  you  on  this  subject  before,  but  it  is  a 
question  that  can't  easily  be  exhausted.  Every  day 
that  I  live  I  become  more  and  more  convinced,  that, 
if  we  succeed,  we  must  do  it  by  the  proper  use  of  the 
great  lever  which  circumstances  and  events  have 
placed  in  our  hands.  Every  observing  man  knows 
that  every  day  the  native  population  of  this  country 
is  becoming  more  and  more  alive  to  the  danger  from 
the  incoming  foreigners.  The  natives  are  becoming 
restive  under  the  immense  weight  of  foreign  crime, 
pauperism,  misery,  and  more  than  all,  the  intolerant 
and  anti- American  sentiments  the  foreigners  are  dis 
seminating  broadcast  through  our  land.  This  pressure 
must  be  thrown  off,  in  order  that  the  great  American 
heart  may  once  more  pulsate  with  the  inspiring  throbs 
of  freedom  and  of  liberty.  Our  natives  are  preparing 
for  the  effort,  and  at  one  grand  upheaving  of  Ameri- 

11 


122       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

can  sentiment,  the  foreign  mass  will  be  thrown  off", 
and  America  be  redeemed — disenthralled.  Other 
States,  at  the  North,  have  led  in  the  matter,  and  let 
us,  Virginians,  follow  their  worthy  example. 

"Another  reason  why  we  should  give  to  this  matter 
our  especial  attention,  is  found  in  the  ability,  skill, 
and  management  of  the  selected  leader  of  our  enemy. 
It  is  said  that  he  will  canvass  the  State ;  whatever 
be  our  opinions  of  the  man,  we  must  acknowledge 
the  power  of  his  eloquence,  the  seductive  influence 
of  his  capacity  in  the  arts  of  wining  friends ;  he  is, 
by  all  odds,  more  to  be  dreaded  by  us  than  any  man 
they  could  have  started.  I  say  this  within  the  veil 
of  this  secret  temple.  If  we  beat  him,  we  must  do  it 
all  by  exciting  the  masses  against  foreigners ;  prove 
that  the  administration  is  anti-American  in  its  cha 
racter,  and  that  the  Democratic  party,  as  a  party,  by 
their  policy,  build  up  and  patronize  the  alien,  .to 
the  prejudice  of  the  native ;  and  for  this  purpose  I 
have  drawn  up  the  following  circular,  a  copy  of 
which  should  be  forwarded  to  each  State  canvasser. 
It  runs  as  follows : — 

"  DEAR  SIR,— 

"  Not  doubting  your  capability  to  conduct  intel 
ligently  the  business  committed  to  your  hands  by 
your  brother  Americans  in  Council  assembled,  the 
Council,  nevertheless,  has  thought  proper  to  address 
to  you,  as  to  your  associates  in  the  work,  the  follow 
ing  letter  of  advice,  with  the  hope,  that  you  will* 
receive  it  in  the  same  spirit  with  which  it  is  dictated. 
In  addition  to  the  instructions  you  have  heretofore 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IX   VIRGINIA.       123 

received,  also  in  addition  to  the  ways  and  means 
your  own  native  sagacity  will  suggest  to  you  to 
follow,  as  necessary  to  success  in  the  exigencies  of 
the  present  campaign,  the  Council  would  particularly 
and  earnestly  advise  you  to  make  the  foreign  ques 
tion  the  strong  point  in  the  canvass.  Appeal  to  the 
prejudices  of  native  Virginians,  prove  to  them  that 
the  great  principle  involved  in  this  political  struggle 
is,  whether  natives  or  foreigners  shall  rule  America. 
Dwell  upon  the  incalculable  injury  the  foreign  popu 
lation  is  working  to  the  country.  Show  that  the 
natural  tendency  of  the  principles  held  by  tlie 
Democracy  is  to  foster  and  protect  the  alien  rather 
than  the  native ;  and  that  the  prime  object,  the  proud 
destiny  of  our  organization,  is  to  correct  this  crying, 
this  unnatural  evil.  Prove  that  the  present  admin 
istration  is  the  elevator  of  foreigners,  the  oppressor 
of  natives,  and  to  enable  you  to  do  this  effectually,  a 
table  of  statistics  is  herewith  forwarded,  showing  the 
large  number  of  foreigners  holding  office.  The 
Democratic  leader  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Pre 
sident,  and  the  most  effective  way  of  stabbing  him 
and  destroying  his  influence  is  through  the  present 
administration;  and  this  is  the  chief  reason  that 
induces  us  to  the  adoption  of  the  course  above  sug 
gested.  Should  the  aforesaid  leader  appear  in  your 
midst,  as  in  all  probability  he  will,  remember  you 
must  stand  on  your  P's  and  Q's,  or  else  the  wily  old 
renegade  will  find  you  out :  should  this  unfortunately 
be  the  case  the  advice  of  the  Council  is  to  take  to 
your  heels  with  considerable  velocity,  or  otherwise  he 
might  put  you  through  an  ordeal  which  would  cause 


124:       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX    VIRGINIA. 

you  to  remember  ever  afterwards  the  force  of  the  old 
adage,  that  the  better  part  of  valor  is  discretion — a 
word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.  The  purpose  of  the 
organization  is  to  allow  him  to  have  the  whole  field 
to  himself,  in  a  public  way,  while  we  fight  our 
battle  after  our  own  peculiar  manner.  The  Council 
deems  it  useless  to  enter  farther  into  detail  or  speci 
fications,  it  has  simply  thrown  out  these  suggestions 
for  your  guidance,  leaving  it  to  your  own  good  sense 
and  judgment  how  to  give  a  practical  and  efficient 
bearing  to  the  hints  herein  contained.  The  Council 
would  request,  farther,  to  be  informed  monthly  of 
the  condition  and  progress  of  the  canvass  in  your 
particular  bailawick  ;  and  would  thank  you  for  any 
general  information  that  may  come  within  your 
range,  touching  the  general  interest  of  the  organiza 
tion. 

"  Yours,  with  brotherly  love, 

"  Signed         ,  President. 

,  Secretary? 

The  circular  was  received  without  amendment,  and 
the  secretary  directed  to  forward  a  copy  to  the  ad 
dress  of  each  State  canvasser.  The  next  business  in 
order,  was  the  reading  of  communications  relative  to 
the  progress  of  the  cause.  The  first  on  the  docket 
was  from  old  Captain  Swyburg,  dated  Parkersburg, 
and  ran  as  follows : — 

4 

"Dear  Brothers, — 

"It  is  with  feelings  of  indescribable  delight,  I  am 
permitted  to  say  to  you,  that  the  work  goes  bravely  on. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       125 

I  have  now  been  in  this  section  for  some  time;  my 
kind  reception  here,  and  the  courtesy  and  hospitality 
that  has  been  extended  to  me  by  the  citizens,  is  more 
than  gratifying.  The  whisperings  we  have  so  often 
heard  in  the  East  of  the  want  of  fidelity  to  the  South, 
on  the  part  of  these  people,  is,  I  am  pleased  to  say, 
slanderous  in  the  extreme,  as  proven  by  the  alacrity 
with  which  they  espouse  the  Union's  cause  in  uniting 
with  our  organization.  A  greater  degree  of  conser 
vatism  is  found  to  pervade  the  Western  mind  than  is 
observable  in  the  East;  hence,  the  public  mind  here 
is  in  a  better  state  of  preparation  for  the  reception 
and  application  of  the  conservative  principles  of  our 
organization.  You  may  confidently  count  largely  on 
the  Western  vote,  as  I  doubt  not,  the  same  spirit 
prevails  elsewhere  as  in  the  sections  I  have  visited. 
Nearly  all  the  influential  men  in  this  region,,  of  both 
the  old  parties,  have  united  with  us,  and  are  now 
worthy  sentinels,  guarding  the  rights  of  Americans. 
The  work,  in  this  delightful  section  of  Virginia,  is 
already  nearly  accomplished.  I  will  leave  the  re 
mainder  to  faithful  hands,  and  in  a  few  days  start  for 
Point  Pleasant,  Mason  Co.,  and  certainly  hope  to  find 
recruits  and  co-laborers  among  the  descendants  of 
the  heroes  of  the  battle  of  Point  Pleasant.  By  the 

way,  there  is  a  man  in  or  near  that  place,  Col. , 

peculiarly  fitted  for  some  office  of  distinction  from 
our  organization;  he  has  heretofore  been  honored, 
more  than  once,  with  democratic  suffrages.  It  is 
said  that  he  is  predisposed  to  the  chief  objects  of 
our  organization ;  if  so,  certain  instances  of  independ 
ence  of  character  places  him  conspicuously  before  the 


126       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

American  party.  I  shall  see  him,  and  if  he  proves 
as  I  have  been  led  to  hope,  you  will  be  advised  more 
particularly  on  these  points.  From  Point  Pleasant  I 
expect  to  travel  up  the  fertile  valley  of  the  beautiful 
Kanawha,  and  spend  some  time  among  the  genial 
souls  and  hospitable  citizens  of  Kanawha  Co.  In  this 
county  I  expect  to  accomplish  much;  you  know  the 
political  complexion  of  the  people  there.  Standing 
upon  the  far-famed  soil  of  Terra  Salis,  I  will  unfurl 
the  American  banner,  and  the  cry  of  the  sentinels, 
from  day  to  day  will  be,  still  they  come.  The  editor 
of  that  excellent,  yea,  invaluable  republican  journal, 
published  there,  who  is  peculiarly  a  northern  man 
with  southern  feelings,  has  already,  through  his 
columns,  espoused  our  principles,  and  this  will  prove 
a  most  valuable  auxiliary  in  the  work  before  me. 
As  Kanawha  goes,  so  goes  the  congressional  district 
of  which  it  forms  a  part.  From  Kanawha  I  shall  -go 
to  Lewisburg,  thence  te  South-western  Virginia,  which 
section  I  particularly  desire  to  visit,  with  the  hope  of 
counteracting  the  influence  of  an  ex-governor  of  the 
State,  who,  it  is  said,  will  take  a  conspicuous  part  in 
the  canvass,  it  being  strongly  suspected  that  he  has 
an  eye  to  Senator  James  M.  Mason's  place  in  the 
national  council.  I  would  say  in  conclusion,  that  the 
news  of  the  Staunton  Democratic  nominations  fell,  in 
this  region,  like  a  wet  blanket  even  on  the  deepest 
dyed  and  most  zealous  of  the  Anti-American  party. 
They  are  sadly  dispirited,  and  will  not  go  to  work 
with  that  degree  of  spirit  and  vitality  that  has  here 
tofore  characterised  their  action  in  an  important  cam 
paign.  My  brothers,  the  fruit  upon  the  tree  of 


LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.        127 

liberty  is  now  ripening  for  our  refreshment,  let  us 
beware  that  no  serpent  of  Democracy  tempts  us  from 
the  honest  tenor  of  our  ways;  also,  let  us  remember 
the  injunctions  placed  upon  us  by  the  council  that 
recorded  our  names  among  the  honored  brotherhood 
of  the  Sires  of  Seventy-Six,  and  touch  no  fruit  forbid 
den  in  the  commands,  lest  in  the  touch  we  fall.  The 
prospect  of  success  is  so  flattering,  that  my  old  bones 
grow  tremulous  with  joy,  and  my  old  heart  pulsates 
big  and  strong  with  emotions  of  patriotism  in  antici 
pating  the  consummation  of  our  wishes.  When  will 
our  wishes  be  consummated  ?  Not  till  Democracy 
shall  lie  prostrate  in  the  dust,  and  Americans  shall 
rule  America.  You  will  hear  from  me  again  before 
long.  With  brotherly  love,  yours,  &c. 

"  PETER  SWYBURG,  0.  G." 

Several  other  communications  were  then  read  from 
canvassers,  giving  reports  of  the  condition  of  mat 
ters  in  their  respective  sections ;  there  was  nothing 
important  in  either  of  these,  so  we  will  not  trouble 
the  reader  with  a  perusal,  but  proceed  to  recqrd  the 
communication  of  Yankee  Uriah,  as  it  fell  verbatim 
from  the  lips  of  the  secretary.  This  document  called 
forth  from  the  members  of  the  Council  laughter, 
frowns,  and  half-suppressed  anathemas  against  its 
author,  who,  being  safe  in  his  mountain  home,  had 
little  to  fear. 

"  Gentlemen,  members  of Council: 

"DEAR  SIRS — Some  few  weeks  ago,  I  wrote  to 
Mr.  Fox,  who  has  probably  reported  to  you  the  sub- 


128       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

stance  of  that  communication.  If  so,  you  will  re 
member  that  although  at  that  time  converts  were 
coming  into  the  Order  quite  slowly,  yet  I  was  san 
guine  of  success  finally.  Well,  for  some  time  after 
that  I  went  about  bush-whacking,  with  an  energy 
and  perseverance  that  I  am  sure  would  have  chal 
lenged  the  admiration  of  every  man  of  you.  Well, 
I  might  have  continued  in  the  business  until  I  re 
ceived  a  commission  from  you  to  leave  it  off',  but  for 
the  happening  of  a  little  circumstance,  which  it  is 
incumbent  upon  me,  as  a  man  of  honor,  to  report  to 
you.  Premising  that  there  is  no  way  of  calculating 
the  extraordinary  mutations  that  may  take  place  in  a 
man's  mind,  owing  to  the  befogged  condition  our 
foresight  is  generally  in,  I  would  say  that  a  change 
has  come  over  the  spirit  of  my  dreams,  growing  out 
of  the  circumstance  referred  to,  which  happened 
after  the  following  slightly  painful  and  exceedingly 
ludicrous  manner,  and  which  resulted  in  the  glorious 
consummation  of  the  dearest  wishes  of  your  obedient 
servant. 

"  It  was  just  before  sunset.  I  had  been  on  a  hard 
day's  canvass — had  made  one  convert.  A  tremendous 
thunder  storm  came  up.  I  took  refuge  in  a  cabin  by 
the  road  side ;  it  ceased  raining ;  the  sun  shone  out ; 
a  beautiful  and  gaudily  tinted  rainbow  arched  the 
eastern  heavens.  Animated  with  the  success  of 
getting  one  convert  that  day,  and  zealous  in  the 
cause,  resumed  my  journey,  and  rushed  on  for  a  log 
rolling  some  distance  off — there  to  work,  work  for 
Sam,  at  33]  cents  per  head  for  initiates.  I  came  to  u 
mountain  creek,  swollen  by  the  flood,  its  waters  leap- 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       129 

ing  and  foaming,  rushing  headlong  on ;  but,  nothing 
daunted,  I  spurred  my  noble  animal,  and  the  brave 
fellow  plunged  headlong  in.  Well,  the  horse  and  I 
soon  parted  company.  What  became  of  him  is  not 
positively  known,  though  it  is  presumed  that  he  was 
washed  down  the  stream.  I,  too,  was  washed  down 
the  stream  some  half  a  mile  or  more,  and  then  provi 
dentially  thrown  upon  the  shore,  though  in  a  deci 
dedly  damp  and  somewhat  dilapidated  condition. 
Gentlemen,  you  know  it  is  out  of  reason  to  suppose 
that  a  man  could  retain  his  mind  and  sensibilities 
while  tumbling  along  down  at  the  bottom  of  a 
muddy  stream,  buffeted  by  stumps  and  angles  in  the 
bed,  and  chunked  by  heavy  stones  and  rough  old 
logs  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  without  getting  a  little 
daylight  to  breathe,  so  that,  at  the  period  of  my 
landing  or  running  aground,  if  you  please,  I  am  not 
certain  but  what  I  thought,  if  I  thought  at  all,  that  I 
was  clear  gone  forever,  and  that  you  all  would  have 
to  procure  another  canvasser  for  the  Tenth  Legion. 
How  long  I  laid  in  that  condition  I  do  not  know,  nor 
did  I  know  how  I  got  there,  or  for  what  purpose  I 
was  there ;  it  appeared  to  me  a  dream.  On  returning 
consciousness,  the  first  object  that  struck  my  obser 
vation  was  a  beautiful  mountain  lass,  stroking  the 
water  from  my  dishevelled  locks. 

"  '  Poor  stranger,'  said  she,  '  can  you  walk  ?' 

« <  D d  if  I  kin,'  said  I. 

'"If  you  can't,'  said  she,  ' I  will  run  up  for  father, 
and  he  will  fetch  you  up,  and  take  care  of  you.' 

"  In  a  few  moments  a  hale,  hearty,  jolly,  old  farmer, 
of  Dutch  extraction,  of  some  fifty  summers,  was  by 


130       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

my  side,  who,  without  any  questions,  shouldered  me, 
just  as  if  I,  an  American  Canvasser,  had  been  a  bag 
of  potatoes,  and  carried  me  up  the  hill  to  the  house, 
and  there  the  good  people  treated  me  kindly,  and  in 
a  few  days  was  able  to  be  out. 

"  Not  wishing  to  impose  too  much  on  the  kindness 
of  my  preservers,  I  repaired  to  the  tavern  near  by  ; 
and  in  a  week  or  so  was  as  well  as  ever,  and  ready 
for  work ;  but  then,  alas !  I  was  in  no  condition  to 
work,  as  the  image  of  the  fair  girl,  at  whose  request 
her  daddy  toated  me  up  the  hill,  and  cared  for  me  in 
distress,  was  continually  haunting  my  mind,  and  I 
suddenly  turned  my  attention  to  poetry,  &c.  On 
reading  the  works  of  the  immortal  Shakspeare,  I  was 
struck  with  this  passage, — 

"  '  There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  man, 
"Which  taken  at  the  flood,  leads  on  to  fortune." 

'  Well,  it  appeared  to  me,  that  my  case  fitted  that 
exactly.  The  tide  in  my  affairs  was  the  flood  that 
washed  me  down  the  torrent;  the  fortune  it  was  to 
lead  to  was  the  old  Dutchman's,  at  his  death,  pro 
vided,  I  could  marry  his  daughter ;  and  forthwith 
made  up  my  mind  for  the  effort.  I  became  a  frequent 
visitor  at  his  house,  and  was  at  all  times  well 
received.  After  matters  had  run  on  long  enough,  I 
one  eveing  asked  the  object  of  all  my  adorations  to 
walk  with  me  to  the  spot  where  we  too  had  first  met. 
She  consented.  I  intended  to  be  eloquent ;  but,  on 
getting  to  the  spot,  felt  a  little  insignificant,  as 
nothing  but  a  little  thread  of  water  was  passing 
along  its  tiny  bed,  and  I  felt  ashamed  that  such  a 
modest  branch,  in  dry  weather,  should  have,  at  flood 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       131 

tide,  used  me  so  roughly.  However,  I  made  out  the 
best  I  could,  declared  my  love  at  that  very  spot,  was 
accepted,  and  felt  that  the  whole  circumstance,  was 
perhaps,  the  most  romantic  event  of  the  present  cen 
tury.  All  in  good  time,  I  asked  the  old  man's 
consent,  who  simply  said,  '  Well,  as  my  daughter 
found  you,  I  suppose  she  has  as  good  a  right  to  you 
as  any  body  else.'  And  we  are  to  be  married,  week 
after  next. 

' ;  The  old  man  is  going  to  give  us  a  grand  wedding, 
and  I  hope  you  will  all  come  up,  and  see  your  old 
friend  joined  in  matrimony.  I  would  ask  your 
worthy  president  to  come  up  and  give  me  away,  but 
as  this  might  put  him  to  some  trouble,  I  calculate  I 
will  take  the  responsibility  upon  myself,  inasmuch 
as  the  gal  aint  either  a  Catholic  or  a  foreigner,  and  I 
can't  see  that  I  am  violating  any  of  the  oaths,  by 
which  I  swore  myself  away  to  the  Order.  The  old 
man  is  pretty  stiff,  and  is  going  to  do  a  handsome 
part  by  us,  say — to  the  tune  of  several  thousand,  and 
a  valuable  farm — where  I  intend  to  devote  my  time 
to  the  raising  of  stock  and  cattle  on  the  farm,  and 
young  Hawks  in  the  house,  which  will,  I  dare  say, 
be  a  more  independent  way  of  living,  than  my  pre 
sent  somewhat  contingent  income.  The  old  man  is 
a  thorough-going,  out-and-out,  Tenth-Legion  Demo 
crat  ;  and  you  know  it  is  a  good  and  happy  thing  to 
keep  peace  in  a  family,  so  it  strikes  me  as  more  than 
expedient  that  I  should  follow  the  example  of  a  great 
many  big  men  of  the  state,  and  join  the  same  party, 
particularly  as  I  see  nothing  peculiarly  objectionable 
in  their  principles.  I  would,  therefore,  most  respect- 


132       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

fully  solicit  of  you  a  withdrawal  from  your  organi 
zation  ;  you  need  entertain  no  fears  that  I  will  ever 
betray  any  of  your  secrets,  for  God  knows,  I  am  the 
last  man  that  will  ever  refer  to  my  connection  with 
the  Know  Nothing  organization.  Below  is  my  ac 
count,  which  I  would  thank  you  to  remit  as  soon  as 
possible,  as  I  wish  to  present  half  to  a  Catholic  church, 
the  other  to  the  first  poor,  needy  foreigner  I  meet, 
as  part  remuneration  for  the  injury  I  have  done  to 
Catholics  and  foreigners.  You  will  observe,  that  in 
the  account,  the  one  third  of  a  cent  is  not  charged.  I 
have  done  this,  feeling  that  I  owe  you  something  for 
terminating  our  contract  so  suddenly.  You  will  ob 
serve  further,  that  there  is  an  item  charged  in  the 
account,  for  half  an  initiate ;  this  might  appear  mys 
terious  without  an  explanation.  The  one-half  charge 
is  for  a  fellow  who  after  coming  in,  and  taking  one 
half  the  oaths,  refused  to  take  the  other  half,  and, 
without  ceremony,  bolted  out  of  the  lodge  room.  I 
will  state,  in  passing,  that  this  man  was  a  Democrat, 
and  it  was  thought  proper,  by  those  who  were  in  the 
room  at  the  time  the  bolter  made  good  his  escape, 
who  were  all  Whigs,  to  take  proper  notice  of  the 
desertion,  and  after  much  debate  and  deliberation,  the 
following  somewhat  equivocal  resolution  was  passed : 

" '  Resolved,  That  our  half  brother,  Ike  Davis,  smelt 
a  rat,  and  decamped  before  he  saw  the  elephant.' 

"  If,  however,  you  think  this  charge  for  the  half 
initiate,  ought  not  to  be  made,  just  strike  it  out,  and 
forward  the  remainder ;  you  may  rest  assured  I  will 
never  warrant  you  for  it. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN  VIKGINIA.  133 

"  The  Members  of  Council  No.  1  of  the  American  Organization, 
State  of  Virginia, 

11  To  H.  Uriah  Hawks,  Dr. 

Nov.  5,    To  procuring  one  initiate,  33 

"          6  drinks,  3  straight,  5  cts.,  3  with  sugar,        -  35 

"   7,    procuring  one  initiate,    -                        -.'      '•  33 

"  12,      "         "      "    . '-+  :  -Ci;  '-v.y •.  ->•* ;_  *;  33 

"   17,        "         two      "         .-     •-..-..  Y   ->-..    .  66 

"          1  qt.  of  beer,  25  ;  2  drinks  with  sugar,             •*  45 

"   21,       "        "      "       one  initiate,         -        «-  .  ri  33 

"   27,       "        "      "             "            -       -        ..-     -  33 

"   28,       "        "      "       a  half  initiate,  16£ 

"          £  gal.  old  rye,  50  ;  7  drinks,  straight,  85 


Eeceived  payment,         -        -       -        -     $4 12£ 
Dec.  IQtfi,  1854. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  being  about  to  bid  you  a  long 
farewell,  if  I  were  permitted  so  to  do,  I  would  advise 
you  to  appoint  no  successor  to  me  in  this  district ;  I 
have  worked  for  you  hard  and  faithfully,  and  am. 
well  convinced  that  Know  Nothingism  'aint  going 
to  take  in  the  Tenth  Legion  ;  you  had  as  well  try  to 
make  white-wash  out  of  pumpkins  and  flints  as  to 
try  to  beat  anything  into  the  heads  of  these  people, 
that  does  not  start  with  Democracy,  go  along  with 
Democracy,  and  end  with  Democracy.  My  private 
opinion  is  worth  nothing,  gentlemen,  but  I  rather 
think  you  will  be  beat  in  the  election.  I  shall  not 
have  a  vote,  as  I  will  not  have  resided  here  long 
enough  to  entitle  me  to  exercise  that  privilege  so 
much  prized  by  us  all  in  this  land  of  liberty.  Desir 
ing  to  take  leave  of  you  in  all  kindness, 
"  I  am,  gentlemen, 

"  Yours,  most  respectfully, 

H.  U.  HAWKS. 
12 


134      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN  VIRGINIA. 

This  letter  was  the  occasion  of  an  exhortation  from 
a  zealous  member,  who  entreated  his  brothers  not  to 
be  at  all  dispirited  or  disheartened  by  what  they  had 
heard ;  that  there  was  nothing  in  it  entitled  to  one 
moment's  consideration  ;  that  the  author  was  at  best 
nothing  but  a  traveling  Yankee ;  that  the  Council 
deserved  such  treatment  for  making  such  an  appoint 
ment  as  the  individual  in  question,  &c.,  &c.  He  then 
branched  out  on  the  importance  of  selecting  honest, 
tried,  capable  men  for  such  offices,  and  concluded  by 
making  an  appeal  to  his  brother,  Maurice  Meredith, 
to  accept  and  win  laurels  on  the  field  so  unworthily 
surrendered  by  the  ungrateful  author  of  the  commu 
nication  they  had  heard  read. 

There  were  attractions  for  Maurice  at  home  about 
this  time,  so  he  most  peremptorily  declined  the 
honor,  saying,  he  was  willing  to  make  any  and  all 
sacrifices  for  his  party,  but  he  owed  a  duty  first  to 
himself,  and  he  could  not  accept  the  mission  without 
neglect  to  the  legal  business  committed  to  his  hands. 

It  was  finally  suggested  and  agreed  to,  that  old 
Captain  Swyburg  be  requested  to  go  thither,  after  his 
tour  through  the  South- West  was  completed,  and 
this  arrangement  seemed  to  satisfy  all  present.  It 
was  determined  that  the  whole  amount  charged  in 
Mr.  Hawk's  account  be  paid,  that  his  withdrawal 
card  be  forwarded  to  him,  and  thus  ended  Uriah's 
sojourn  among  the  tribes  of  Virginia  Know  Nothings. 

The  following  resolutions  were  then  offered  : 

"  Resolved,  That  no  member  of  the  American  Order 
of  Virginia  shall  enter  into  public  debate  with  the 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      135 

leader  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  that  even  private 
conversations  with  him  be  eschewed." 

This  resolution  was  referred  to  the  standing  com 
mittee  on  rules  and  regulations  of  the  canvass. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  form  some  uniform  and  practicable 
plan  by  which  the  influential  members  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  who  are  disposed  to  bolt  their  party 
nominations,  may  be  approached  wisely  and  judici 
ously,  and  thus  be  induced  to  throw  their  weight 
and  influence  into  the  American  scale."  Adopted. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Council,  that 
when  the  American  party  shall  meet  in  convention 
to  nominate  candidates,  that  at  least  two  of  the 
nominees  be  selected  from  the  Democratic  party." 
Adopted  also. 

Much  other  business  detained  the  Council  until  a 
late  hour,  but  as  it  was  of  no  great  importance  to 
themselves,  nor  the  rest  of  mankind,  we  will  bid  its 
worthy  members  good  night,  and  once  more  let  the 
curtain  fall  that  excludes  them  from  the  outward 
world. 


136      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

MB.  Editor  Peter  Willing  Turner  now  claims  a 
notice  at  the  hands  of  the  chronicler  of  Sam's  doings. 
Through  inadvertence,  this  gentleman's  claim  to  a 
more  extended  notice  in  this  history  has  been  entirely 
neglected ;  so  to  atone  for  the  wrong,  he  shall  now 
have  u  chapter  appropriated  to  his  service.  To  do 
him  justice,  he  was,  as  the  world  goes,  an  honest, 
well-meaning  man ;  naturally  of  strong  mind,  it  was 
also  well-stored  with  general  and  useful  information. 
He  had  for  some  years  been  connected  with  the  pub 
lic  press,  was  a  bold  and  ready  writer,  and  by  bis 
courteous  editorial  career,  commanded  the  universal 
respect  of  his  brothers  of  that  honorable  and  influ 
ential  profession.  He  had  always  been  a  zealous, 
wide-awake  Whig  in  politics,  was  apparently  most 
devotedly  attached  to  the  principles  of  that  party — 
had  been  a  firm  and  constant  friend  of  the  great  Mr. 
Clay — taxed  his  abilities  and  devoted  the  columns  of 
the  journal  he  then  conducted,  to  the  support  of  that 
distinguished  gentleman  for  the  presidency. 

The  great  expounder  of  great  principles,  the  Hon. 
Daniel  Webster,  was  a  man  whose  political  doctrines 
and  teachings  he  most  heartily  endorsed.  And  then 
to  come  to  a  later  day,  there  was  a  man  of  whom 
fame  speaks  well  in  telling  of  his  glories  on  the 
tented  field,  but  when  transferred  to  civic  life,  as  a 
candidate  for  its  highest  honor,  being  an  American, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      137 

betrayed  too  great  a  weakness  for  the  "  rich  Irish 
brogue  and  the  sweet  German  accent,"  was  also 
warmly  sustained  by  Mr.  Turner,  who,  like  the  great 
General,  then  had  a  fancy  for  the  rich  brogue,  and 
thought  the  German  accent  was  sweet  enough. 

Such  was  Mr.  Turner's  life  and  character  prior  to 
the  introduction  and  progress  of  Know  Nothingism 
in  Virginia.  Let  us  now  look  at  his  career  after  he 
became  a  sworn  subject  of  this  native  king,  and 
see  how  it  contrasts  with  his  former  professions.  It 
was  stated  above,  that  Mr.  Turner  was  a  warm 
admirer  of  Henry  Clay.  Mr.  Clay  was  for  a  time 
the  master-spirit  of  a  great  party :  it  is  conceded  that 
that  party  had  principles  worthy  the  man  ;  and  that 
its  opponents  differed,  not  in  contempt,  but  from  the 
conviction  that  other  principles  were  better  adapted 
to  our  form  of  •  government.  This  party,  of  which 
Mr.  Clay  was  the  great  embodiment,  openly,  honestly 
and  boldly  took  issue  with  the  opposition  on  great 
subjects  touching  the  national  policy  that  ought  to 
be  pursued.  The  Bank  question,  the  Tariff  ques 
tion,  the  Internal  Improvement  question,  (by  the 
general  government,)  &c.,  &c.,  were  all  subjects  on 
which  great  minds  and  pure  patriots  have  differed. 
How  is  it  then,  at  so  early  a  day  as  1854,  that  men 
are  found,  Mr.  Turner  included,  who  swore  they 
would  live  and  die  by  the  principles  as  expounded 
by  Clay  and  Webster,  ignoring  those  principles,  or 
blotting  them  out  from  their  political  creed,  and 
essaying  to  make  a  political  struggle  in  this  intelli 
gent  land,  on  the  poor,  miserable,  insignificant 
question,  whether  it  ought  or  ought  not  to  be,  that 

12* 


138        LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

naturalized  citizens  and  Catholics  should  exercise 
rights  of  citizenship,  and  hold  offices  in  this  country  ? 
How  is  it  that  men  who,  but  a  few  years  ago,  sus 
tained  the  distinguished  General  Scott  in  his  bid  for 
the  foreign  vote,  and  played  on  the  harp  of  a  thousand 
strings,  with  manifold  variations  to  the  tune  he  had 
most  artistically  struck,  in  which  was  most  harmo 
niously  blended  the  Irish  brogue  and  the  German 
accent  have  so  changed  ?  Such,  though,  has  verily 
come  to  pass  in  the  days  of  Sam,  and  hardly  have 
the  mortal  remains  of  Clay  and  Webster  become  cold 
in  their  graves  before  their  once  valiant  friends  have 
turned  their  backs  upon  their  teachings  and  ex 
amples.  Hardly,  too,  has  the  music  their  valiant 
general  raised  in  singing  paens  to  noble  foreigners, 
in  which  the  party  joined  in  boisterous  chorus,  died 
away  in  the  distance,  before  another  song  is  sung, 
far  different  in  sentiment  and  in  tune.  In  which  the 
words,  "  down  with  Catholics,  down  with  foreigners," 
are  often  repeated.  Upon  what  grounds  of  con 
sistency  Mr.  Turner,  and  those  who  think  and  act 
with  him,  reconcile  this  to  their  former  position,  it  is 
impossible  to  conceive.  He,  nor  none  of  his  col 
leagues,  have  ever  vouchsafed  to  tell  the  uninitiated 
what  course  of  policy  they  intend  to  pursue  in 
administering  the  affairs  of  government.  Whether 
they  were  for  or  against  the  Bank,  Tariff,  internal 
improvement,  distribution,  the  annexation  of  Cuba, 
Canada  and  the  rest  of  the  world,  that  small  portion, 
the  outside  portion  of  mankind,  was  never  advised. 
They  were  non-committal,  non-comatible  on  all  of 
these  subjects.  They  all,  however,  seemed  to  agree 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      139 

with  extraordinary  unanimity  upon  one  point,  namely, 
crush  out  the  foreigners  and  Catholics  that  are  con 
tinually  licking  up  the  grease  from  the  wheels  of 
Government,  and  then  the  old  Government  would 
roll  on  and  on,  to  all  time,  without  getting  out  of  gear 
or  without  requiring  any  more  administrative  power 
to  keep  its  motion  regular  and  uniform.  This  cer 
tainly,  is  a  new  theory  in  political  economy,  well 
worthy  of  the  modern  schools  of  free,  free,  free,  free, 
free,  free,  freeisms  at  the  North. 

We  will  now  copy  from  Mr.  Turner's  Know  Nothing 
journal  certain  passages,  which  were  put  forth  as 
precious  doses  for  the  stomach  of  that  respectable 
patient  called  Sam.  Among  the  first  issues  that 
came  out,  after  the  nams  and  political  character  of 
the  journal  were  changed,  as  if  by  way  of  apology  to 
the  numerous  patrons  of  the  old  Whig  sheet,  the  fol 
lowing  passage  occurred : — 

"  After  much  study,  reflection,  and  observation, 
after  a  patient  investigation  of  the  wants  of  the 
times,  after  looking  into  the  condition  of  parties, 
after  looking  to  the  past  to  find  a  lesson  for  the 
future,  the  result  of  all  our  deliberations  is  the  fixed 
and  firm  conclusion  that  the  salvation  of  our  country 
now  depends  upon  the  adoption  of  the  principles  as 
set  forth  in  the  American  platform.  Such  being  our 
conscientious  conviction,  there  is  but  one  path  of 
duty  for  us  to  follow,  viz. :  to  go  with  that  party, 
and  contribute  our  best  endeavors  towards  the  accom 
plishment  of  its  objects.  To  our  old  friends  and 
patrons,  who  cannot  go  with  us,  we  must  tender  a 
reluctant  farewell.  They  cannot  ask  us  to  stay  with 


140      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

them  when  our  country  calls  us  to  its  aid  ;  the  prime 
article  in  their  creed  is  that  natives  should  rule 
America ;  where  is  the  man  that  does  not  endorse  the 
sentiment  ?  We  desire  it,  however,  to  be  distinctly 
understood,  that  in  taking  this  position,  we  renounce 
none  of  the  great  principles  the  Whig  party  has  so 
long  and  so  nobly  contended  for.  These  principles, 
as  it  were,  are  laid  on  the  shelf  until  the  accomplish 
ment  of  a  particular  result,  which  can  only  be  accom 
plished  through  the  means  and  instrumentalities  as 
proposed  by  the  American  organization ;  this  result 
accomplished,  and  we  will  be  free  to  raise  once  more 
the  time-honored  flag  which  floated  in  the  breeze 
when  Harry  of  the  West  was  chieftain  of  our  clan." 

This  latter  clause  was  most  wisely  put  in,  which 
simply  means,  in  unambiguous  English,  that  the 
editor  intended  to  experiment  a  while  with  the  work 
ings  of  the  mysterious  charm  Know  Nothingism  was 
said  to  possess,  and  then,  if  it  did  not  come  up  Jo 
representations,  he  would  immediately  fall  back  upon 
his  old  stay,  and  be  as  good  a  Whig  as  ever.  He 
was  probably  dubious  as  to  what  the  sense  of  a  ma 
jority  of  his.  subscribers  was  on  this  question.  So 
he  assumed  the  position  which  may  aptly  be  likened 
unto  a  stick  of  candy,  with  a  new  flavor  at  one  end 
and  an  old  flavor  at  the  other,  which  he  threw  out 
among  his  patrons,  and  if  a  man  did  not  like  the 
taste  of  the  new  he  could  reverse  the  stick  and  go  to 
sucking  the  old,  and  vice  versd ;  though  he  strongly 
recommended  the  new  as  the  best,  yet  concluded  that 
it  was,  nevertheless,  a  matter  of  taste. 

That  his  position  was  appreciated  by  at  least  one 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      141 

man,  the  following  letter  will  show,  which  came  to 
hand  a  few  days  after  the  publication  of  the  passage : 

"  DEAR  SIR,— 

"I  observe  in  the  leading  editorial  article  of  last 
date,  that  you  have  shaped  your  trap  and  constructed 
your  triggers  with  the  view  of  catching  birds  of  dif 
ferent  feathers  at  the  same  fall ;  and,  from  the  bait 
used,  I  infer  that  you  desire  doves  and  owls  (night 
birds.)  Now,  permit  me  to  say  to  you,  that  these 
birds  do  not  generally  associate  together  in  harmony ; 
and,  moreover,  it  being  left  to  my  discretion  which 
one  of  these  birds  I  shall  represent  myself  by,  I 
would  state  that  I  choose  the  dove,  and  must  say,  in 
conclusion,  that  I  can  find  no  place  under  your  trap 
upon  which  I  can  rest  the  sole  of  my  foot.  So  you 
had  as  well  discontinue  my  paper. 

"Yours,  &c.  ." 

Happily  for  him,  however,  nearly  all  of  his  patrons 
were  pleased  with  the  new  plan,  so  that  his  subscrip 
tion  list  was  not  materially  changed.  Shortly  after 
this,  the  following  passage  occurred,  in  which  the 
editor  exhibited  his  gift  of  prophecy,  and  in  so  doing 
ran  the  risk  of  bringing  himself  within  the  applica 
tion  of  the  old  adage,  which  says  that  "  a  guilty  con 
science  needs  no  accuser." 

"It  is  perfectly  certain,"  said  the  editor,  "that  the 
Democratic  press  of  this  State  will  endeavor  to  prove 
that  the  American  party  of  Virginia  is  in  sympathy 
with  the  Northern  Abolition  party.  It  is  a  notorious 
fact,  that  no  party  in  this  State  can  support  a  man 


142      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

for  State  or  federal  officers  that  the  Democratic  party 
will  not  endeavor  to  show  that  he  is  not  faithful  to 
southern  interests.  For  instance,  look  to  the  late 
presidential  election — look  to  the  gubernatorial  cam 
paign  that  elevated  Gov.  Johnson  to  his  present  posi 
tion,  and  it  will  be  remembered  that  both  the 
opponents  to  the  Democratic  ticket  were  accused  of 
northern  affinities. 

"  The  proper  way  for  us  to  meet  such  charges  and 
insinuations  is  by  the  contempt  which  silence  carries 
with  it.  For  our  part,  we  shall  notice  no  such  dis 
graceful  and  slanderous  efforts  to  retain  power  and 
place  now  in  their  possession. 

"The  American  party  must  stand  upon  the  justice 
of  its  own  native  cause,  or  Ml,  so  far  as  we  are  con 
cerned.". 

Well,  Mr.  Editor,  you  concluded  very  patriotically; 
but,  when  you  penned  the  article,  did  your  conscience 
tell  you  that  your  party  was  amenable  to  the  charge  ? 
You  must,  at  any  rate,  have  felt,  the  uncertainty  of 
your  position  ;  you  must  have  felt  obnoxious  to  such 
a  charge,  though  even  your  political  enemies  did  not 
so  regard  you;  or  else,  why  did  you  anticipate  the 
charge,  and  plead  not  guilty,  before  you  were 
arraigned  before  the  Democratic  Court  of  Inquiry, 
which  court  has  never  yet  soiled  the  ermine  of 
justice,  but  sits  with  majesty  on  its  elevated  platform, 
tries  all  causes  with  impartiality,  and  mingles  in  all 
its  orders  and  decrees  mercy  and  moderation.  True, 
its  judgment  has  more  than  once  been  that  the  Whig 
party  should  be  transferred  for  awhile  to  the  regions 
of  Salt  Biver :  and  would  you  not  call  this  clemency  ? 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA.      143 

Moreover,  do  you  not  know  that  these  cases  have 
been  more  than  once  taken  to  a  higher  court,  a 
supreme  court,  the  court  of  the  people — the  viva  voce 
court  of  Virginia's  sovereigns  ?  And  when  was  one 
of  these  judgments  reversed  ?  Never ;  but  every  one 
has  been  sustained ;  and  upon  what  grounds  can  you 
complain  ? 

But  to  return  to  the  editor's  assertion  that  the 
Democracy  would  charge  his  party  with  abolition 
affinities.  That  prophecy  failed  ;  no  such  charge  was 
ever  made.  The  Democracy  well  knew  that  whatever 
political  opinions  true  Yirginians  might  entertain, 
however  far  asunder  her  people  might  be  in  those 
opinions,  there  was  still  one  common  ground  upon 
which  all  could  meet  and  hold  counsel  together,  with 
one  heart  and  one  mind.  The  Bible — which  their 
immortal  forefathers  read,  and  found  slavery  there 
authorized,  before  they  consented  that  it  should  be 
introduced  into  this  country — is  still  in  the  hands  of 
their  descendants.  The  law  which  declared  slaves  to 
be  property  is  still  recorded  on  the  pages  of  the 
nation's  statute  book ;  and  so  long,  then,  as  the  Bible 
is  accessible  to  the  people  of  Virginia — so  long  as 
that  law  remains  upon  the  statute  book — so  long  will 
Whigs,  Know-Nothings,  Democrats,  and  what  not, 
meet  on  this  common  ground,  defend  and  protect 
their  rights  and  their  property.  Not  until  a  party 
shall  arise  in  Virginia,  as  at  the  North,  which  will 
trample  under  foot  the  Bible,  will  there  be  a  party 
here,'so  deadened  in  all  the  finer  sensibilities  of 
human  nature,  so  poisoned  by  the  putrid  stream  of 
man -fanaticism — which  must  have  its  origin  in  free 


14:4      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

society — so  callous  to  all  the  precepts  of  common 
humanity,  as  to  advocate  the  measure  of  tearing  the 
slave  from  his  kind  master,  and  throw  him  upon  the 
cold  charities  of  a  world,  to  earn  perhaps,  at  best,  but 
a  precarious  subsistence,  and  finally,  from  the  force  of 
his  unrefined  and  sluggish  nature,  degenerate  to  his 
original  state.  True,  self-interest  has  its  sway  over 
southern  as  over  northern  minds ;  but  a  louder  voice 
than  that  which  bids  us  keep  the  slave  as  property 
for  our  own  behoof,  and  our  children's  use — the  voice 
of  humanity — in  pleading  tones,  touches  the  south 
erner's  heart,  and  tells  us  to  protect  the  negro ;  and 
this  Virginia  will  do,  come  what  will,  what  may. 

That  respectable  northern  woman,  Mrs.  Stow,  may 
sit  in  her  easy  chair  and  create  as  many  brutal  Haleys 
as  she  pleases  ;  let  their  name  be  legion — let  them  all 
draw  the  blood  from  the  poor  negro's  back — let  that 
blood  all  unite  and  flow  in  one  sanguinary  stream 
through  the  South,  and,  to  finish  her  picture,  let  it 
stain  old  ocean  even  to  Boston  port.  Let  her  paint  as 
many  good  old  Uncle  Toms,  and  delicate,  gentle 
Elizas  as  she  pleases ;  and  let  her  pitying  strains,  in 
bewailing  their  condition,  be  touching  in  the  extreme; 
and  as  she  excels  in  the  art  of  taking  portraits  of 
negro  girls,  let  her  paint  a  Topsy  tenfold  blacker, 
more  ignorant,  and  more  devilish  than  the  original ; 
and  let  all  of  her  picture-evils  of  slavery,  as  it  exists 
at  the  South,  be  drawn  in  deeper  colors — and  what 
would  be  the  effect  of  all  her  writings  ?  Why,  simply 
to  make  the  maddened  abolitionist  madder  still,  and 
the  southern  gentleman  to  clench  his  property  with 
a  tighter  grasp,  and  cause  him  to  wish  for  more  of 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN  VIRGINIA.      145 

such  characters  as  the  authoress  has  such  an  aptitude 
for  delineating.  Though  it  would  be  well  for  tnat 
lady  to  know,  before  she  takes  up  her  brush  to  paint 
representations  of  southern  life,  with  its  peculiar 
institutions,  that  the  Haleys,  if  they  ever  existed,  have 
long  since  been  numbered  with  the  things  that  were. 
The  place  of  this  raw  head  and  bloody  bones,  this  terror 
to  the  Virginia  negroe,  has  been  filled  by  the  Yan 
kee,  who  the  negro,  by  his  keen  sensibilities,  at  once 
recognizes  when  he  appears  in  our  midst ;  and  with 
that  instinct,  observable  even  in  lower  orders  of  ani 
mals,  which  points  their  enemies  out,  he  fears  and 
dreads  the  Yankee. 

No,  Mr.  Editor,  your  gift  of  prophecy  failed  when 
you  predicted  that  the  Democrats  of  Virginia  would 
charge  you  or  your  party  with  abolitionism.  But 
what  the  Democracy  said  of  your  party  was  said  in 
the  spirit  of  truth  and  friendly  admonition.  They 
entreated  you  not  to  strike  your  old  colors,  but  to 
meet  them  in  open  and  manly  fight,  as  you  had 
often  done  before.  They  told  you  not  to  hoist  the 
Know  Nothing  flag  on  Virginia's  soil.  They  said  to 
you  that  southern  breezes  should  not  kiss  the  dark 
folds  of  the  flag  that  had  waved  in  victorious  battle 
over  Virginia's  enemies.  They  directed  your  eyes 
to  the  birth-place  and  the  birth  of  the  party  that 
carried  that  flag. 

New  England  was  its  birth-place; — how  produced? 
That  land  is  famed  for  its  multitude  of  isms,  and  the 
direst  of  all  is  abolitionism,  which  is  regarded  by  all 
the  manifold  isms  as  common  ground.  Now — that 
this  mongrel  and  mixed  up  set  might  work  together 

13 


146      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

in  concert  on  their  common  tract  leading  to  the  devil, 
they  concluded  to  hold  a  convention,  in  which  there 
should  be  representatives  from  all.  They  met  and 
resolved  to  throw  all  their  isms  together,  each  to  be 
bound  by  the  progeny,  whatever  it  was.  This  was 
done,  and  Know  Nothingism  was  the  offspring.  The 
worthy  grannies  all  pronounced  it  a  proper  child, 
very  much  resembling  its  chief  father,  abolitionism, 
but  with  bolder  features ;  though,  before  it  was 
dressed,  some  one  wiser  than  the  rest  whispered, 
"  Hush !  at  the  South  it  would  be  called  a  monster  ; 
so  we  will  closely  veil  it,"  and  hence  the  secrecy  of 
Know  Nothingism.  The  whole  family  of  isms,  which 
constituted  a  large  portion  of  the  population  of  the 
Northern  States,  having  centred  upon  Know  Nothing- 
ism,  who  could  withstand  its  progress,  who  check  its 
victorious  march! — and  in  an  incredibly  short  period 
of  time,  all  that  was  pure,  noble,  patriotic  and  na 
tional  in  the  Northern.  States,  was  torn  to  pieces  by 
the  rabid  dogs  of  sectionalism  let  loose  from  the 
Know  Nothing  kennel.  As  the  desert's  hot  breath 
prostrates  the  weary  traveller,  so  has  the  effluvia 
emanating  from  Northern  culvert-holes  poisoned  and 
suffocated  the  spirit  of  true  republicanism  there. 

The  advice  the  Democracy  of  Virginia  gave  you 
and  your  party,  Mr.  Editor  Turner,  was  to  stand 
aloof  from  that  party.  But  finding  that  this  advice 
availed  nothing,  they  then  charged  you  with  giving 
aid  and  comfort  to  Virginia's  foes,  by  joining  the 
party  these  foes  had  formed,  for  the  accomplishment 
their  own  sectional,  and  worse  than  abominable  pur 
poses.  The  Democracy  asked  you,  if  southern  men 


LIFE    AND    JJEATH    OF    SAM    IN    VIRGINIA.      147 

should  not  be  slow  to  join  that  party,  after  all  the 
insults  that  have  been  heaped  upon  southern  charac 
ters,  and  southern  institutions?  After  the  many  acts 
of  violence  perpetrated  in  the  very  face  of  the  consti 
tution  itself,  by  the  phrenzied  fanatics  of  that  land, 
who  were  in  truth  the  formers  of  that  party.  That 
question  was  in  all  conscience  a  proper  one,  and 
surely  pertinent  enough.  But  what  respect  did  you 
pay  it?  AY  here  and  how  did  you  answer?  Why, 
in  the  Lodge  room,  and  by  swearing  yourselves  away 
to  those  very  enemies  of  Virginia. 

It  has  been  argued  by  some,  that  the  fact,  that 
there  are  those  to  be  found  in  Virginia,  to  unite  in 
political  action  (with  those  who  are  continually  vili 
fying  and  trampling  upon  their  rights,)  under  a 
political  organization,  which  had  for  its  object  syste 
matic  aggressions  and  encroachments  upon  southern 
rights,  shows  that  the  high  toned,  the  chivalrous 
spirit  of  the  people,  which  has  been  Virginia's  pride 
and  boast  for  so  many  years,  is  sadly  on  the  de 
cline  ;  and  that  Virginians  have  so  far  forgotten  their 
ancestry  and  their  fame,  as  to  be  ready  to  lick  the 
hand  raised  to  strike  them.  Must  this  argument  be 
assumed  as  correct  ?  Virginia  pride  revolts  at  the 
idea,  and  would  fain  find  some  palliating  excuse  for 
those  who  so  shamefully  become  the  willing  dupes  to 
a  northern  plot ;  and  attribute  it  to  the  furor  of  po 
litical  excitement,  rather  than  acknowledge  that  Vir 
ginians  are  capable  of  feeling  the  ignoble  sentiment 
of  servility.  But  let  Virginia  pride  be  their  apologist 
and  what  would  be  the  best  excuse  it  could  frame, 
for  those  who  joined  the  Know  Nothing  party? 


148      LIFE   AND   DEATII   OF   SA.M   IX    VIRGINIA. 

Why,  that  in  their  desire  to  conquer  the  Democracy, 
they  so  far  forget  themselves  as  to  hope  that  by  the 
aid  of  the  culvert's  secresy  and  the  culvert's  morals 
they  would  succeed,  and  Democracy  would  fall. 
This,  though,  would  be  the  artful  politician's  excuse, 
who  would  hope  for  acceptance  in  the  license  allowed 
gentlemen  of  his  stripe. 

But  what  says  old  Virginia  ?  The  good  old  State, 
with  pitying  eye  looks  upon  all,  who,  by  their  unna 
tural  acceptance  of  a  northern  creed,  put  in  jeopardy 
her  interests  ;  and  says,  for  the  hope  of  reward  you 
parted  with  your  birth-right,  and  are  no  more  worthy 
to  be  called  my  sons,  until  you  break  all  party  con 
nections  with  my  enemies.  Having  traveled  north 
in  search  of  (political)  food,  I  know  you  are  hungry, 
and  fain  would  fill  your  bellies  with  the  husks  of 
office.  If  you  return  to  your  old  mother's  house, 
you  will  find  no  fatted  calf  upon  my  table,  though 
after  years  of  devotion  to  southern  interests,  my 
people  may,  perhaps,  reward  you  amply,  by  the 
bestowal  of  some  office,  trust,  or  honor.  On  your 
return  to  my  house,  be  modest,  mourn  for  awhile,  in 
sackcloth  and  ashes,  ask  nothing  of  my  people,  until 
you  become  acclimated  to  your  southern  home,  for  I 
say  unto  you,  that  you  shall"  have  nothing,  and  to 
my  law-makers,  that  they  shall  give  you,  not  even  a 
doorkeeper's  place  in  their  sanctuary. 

As  before  remarked,  the  Editor's  prophesy,  that 
the  Democracy  would  charge  his  party  in  Virginia 
with  abolitionism  utterly  failed,  no  such  charge  was 
ever  made;  but  Sam  in  general  is,  nevertheless,  a 
very  criminal  individual, — even,  after  admitting,  that 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF   SAM    IN    VIKGINIA. 

Sain  in  Virginia,  is  a  northern  man,  with  southern 
feelings ;  and  some  of  his  crimes  will  further  appear 
-as  the  editor's  career  is  a  little  further  sketched. 

When  Mr.  Turner  first  turned  around,  and  got 
with  the  Know  Nothing  current,  his  journal  was  con 
ducted  on  the  half  and  half  principle,  half  Know 
Nothing,  the  balance  Whig,  but  by  and  by,  with 
graceful  and  almost  unapparent  diminution,  whig 
ideas,  began  to  disappear,  so  that  by  the  time  it  was 
ascertained  that  the  Whig  party  was  becoming  com 
pletely  Know  Nothingized,  he  came  out  as  strong 
and  as  bold  in  the  native  cause,  as  the  maddest  fana 
tic  could  desire.  His  party  "  honeyfuggiing"  articles 
were  original,  lofty,  grandiloquent,  poetic,  humorous 
and  long.  His  tirades  and  satires  against  the  De 
mocracy,  and  especially  its  leader  were  simply  awful; 
and  might  have  been  withering,  except  that  they 
wanted  one  essential  element,  called  truth. 

As  fast  as  one  coin  of  his  manufacture  came  out, 
respectable  gentlemen,  on  the  other  side,  took  it  upon 
themselves  to  "nail  it  to  the  counter;"  but,  nothing 
daunted,  the  next  issue  would  contain  another  of 
different  size,  value,  and  dimensions.  This  would 
meet  with  the  fate  of  its  predecessor,  and  so  on,  until 
'people  began  to  wonder  at  his  extraordinary  facili 
ties  in  that  department,  and  in  the  absence  of  all  infor 
mation  on  this  subject,  concluded  that  he  was 
indebted  to  his  very  brilliant  imagination  for  his 
facts  and  truths.  He  studied  northern  journals,  soon 
became  well  posted  on  the  foreign  question;  and  de 
tailed  to  his  readers  regularly  a  good  deal  of  his 
learning,  on  the  evils  resulting  from  the  immense  emi- 

13* 


150       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

gration  to  this  country,  thereby  showing,  that  his 
opinions  from  some  cause  (not  mentioned  by  him) 
have  undergone  some  modification  since  the  tim£ 
when  he  so  zealously  sustained  General  Scott  for  the 
presidency. 

As  has  been  stated,  he  had  for  many  years  been 
connected  with  the  press,  and  during  that  whole 
period,  like  a  good  Christian,  was  never  known  to 
publish  or  issue  any  thing  to  the  discredit  of  any 
religious  creed,  thinking,  no  doubt,  very  properly, 
that  religion  was  a  matter  of  will  and  conscience, 
whose  terms  were  not  to  be  dictated  and  prescribed 
by  man  to  man.  But  as  he  advanced  step  by  step  in 
Know  Nothingism,  the  evil  and  prescriptive  spirit  of 
the  party  was  instilled  into  his  very  heart ;  and  with 
a  high  hand  he  entered  the  holy  sanctuary  of  the 
Eoman  Catholic  denomination,  and  dared  to  mingle 
the  emblems  of  the  cross  in  the  mire  and  filth  of 
political  strife.  He  made  the  wonderful  discovery, 
that  the  handful  of  Eomanists  in  Virginia  were  dan 
gerous  to  the  well-being  of  the  State,  and  should  be 
judged  as  criminals  by  the  protestant  population  of 
State.  But  not  to  follow  him  any  farther,  at  present, 
in  his  downward  career,  it  may  be  said  in  conclusion, 
that  his  journal  progressed  in  evil  with  its  cause. 
The  numerous  correspondents  from  various  sections 
— located  in  truth  in  the  editor's  office — contributed 
their  quota  of  blackguardism  and  abuse ;  real  corres 
pondents  vied  with  them  in  this-  elegant  and  literary 
pastime;  while  every  thing  that  savored  of  low-bred 
political  abuse  and  vulgarity,  was  snatched  from  every 
source,  until  the  journal  became  absolutely  such  a  thing 
as  could  only  be  read  by  Know  Nothings. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN  VIRGINIA.       151 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  intrepid  leader  of  the  Virginia  Democracy  was 
now  at  work.  He  studied  the  nature  of  the  enemy  he 
had  to  deal  with,  and  his  master  intellect  soon  pointed 
out  the  course  he  should  take ;  his  mind  once  made 
tip,  firm  as  adamant,  he  followed  it  to  the  letter.  He 
was  his  own  counsellor  in  the  formation  of  his  plans, 
and  those  who  were  prepared  to  do  him  service,  caught 
as  it  were,  some  of  the  fire  of  his  genius  and  resolu 
tion,  and  worked,  if  it  may  be  so  expressed,  in  the 
second  degree  of  efficiency,  for  it  must  be  acknow 
ledged,  that  on  his  shoulders  alone  rested  the  force 
of  the  political  struggle.  He  believed  that  the  foe 
which  had  arrayed  itself  in  hostility  to  the  Democ 
racy,  was  unworthy  of  that  respectful  recognition 
which  would  elicit  courtesy  from  those  Virginians 
who  were  jealous  of  her  prosperity  and  her  integrity 
to  her  reputation.  He  believed  that  party  destitute 
of  principle — traitors  to  the  South — and  if  their  coun 
sels  should  unhappily  prevail,  all  that  was  worth  pre 
serving  in  the  old  dominion  would  bleed  and  waste 
away  upon  the  barren  failure  of  northern  ideas,  sent 
South  for  experiment.  He  knew  that  in  covert  dark 
ness,  behind  the  oft  repeated  declarations  of  conser 
vatism,  the  wildest  radicalism  laid  in  ambush,  ready, 
should  opportunity  offer,  to  pounce  upon  the  modest 
precepts  of  wisdom,  tried  and  tested  by  long  expe 
rience.  He  knew,  that  under  the  specious  cover  of 


152       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA 

disinterested  patriotism,  there  lurked  the  black  spirit 
Proscription,  more  galling  than  any  that  ever  visited 
his  native  State  before.  "  We  ask  not  for  offices;  we 
ask  not  for  honors,  we  work  only  for  our  country's 
good;" — this  he  correctly  translated — we  demand  all 
the  offices,  we  demand  all  the  honors,  we  work  only 
for  the  spoils.  How  true  that  translation  was,  events 
have  fully  proven.  He  regarded  all  those  engaged 
in  the  work  as  an  immense  company  of  undertakers, 
who,  if  let  alone  in  their  excess  of  folly  and  mad 
ness,  would  weave  the  funeral  garments  for  Virginia's 
glories,  and  dig  deep  the  sepulchre  for  the  interment 
of  all  her  rights.  He  looked  to  the  North,  and  saw 
the  ruin  and  desolation  their  co-laborers  had  there 
worked;  asked  himself  the  question,  shall  this  be  Vir 
ginia's  doom?  His  proud  spirit  rebelled  againsts  any 
other  answer  to  the  question  but  the  most  emphatic 
no.  And  with  this  answer  his  resolution  to  save  Vir 
ginia  was  begot;  he  felt  the  might  and  power  within 
him,  and  went  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer.  Did 
he  adapt  the  maxim  of  most  politicians  in  treating 
with  their  opponents,  viz.: — 

"  Being  to  their  virtues  very  kind, 
And  to  their  vices  very  blind." 

No,  too  proud  to  ask  favors  of  a  party  whose 
patronage  might  be  questionable,  he  boldly  rais  <l 
liis  voice  against  them,  and  painted  their  follies  in 
colors  such  as  bold  and  undisguised  truth  only 
bestows.  He  was  not  the  man  to  cringe  to  the 
reputed  power  of  the  secret  party — not  the  man  to 
bend  the  suple  knee,  and  with  hypocritical  words, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       153 

sue  for  peace  and  good  will  from  his  political  foes. 
But  his  course  was  just  the  opposite,  clad  in  the 
steeled  armor  which  right  gives  to  action,  every  fibre 
of  his  manly  heart  felt  the  justice  of  his  cause,  and 
boldly  he  bid  defiance  to  the  allied  army  of  Whigs, 
Know  Nothings  and  deserters,  who  were  madly 
intent  on  storming  the  proud  works  of  the  Demo 
cracy.  He  went  forth  among  his  people,  and  halted 
at  many  points ;  where'er  he  went  his  fame  was  in 
advance  of  him ;  the  people  came  to  hear  the  voice 
of  the  orator  plead  the  cause  of  their  dear  old  State, 
and  in  these  addresses  he  failed  not  to  awaken 
feelings  of  patriotism  in  the  right-minded,  and  to 
administer  scathing,  blasting,  withering  rebukes  to 
the  party  that  so  ingloriously  dared  .oppose  the 
rights  and  interests  of  Virginia  and  the  South. 

How  stood  matters  when  he  entered  the  field? 
Know  Nothingism  was  on  the  increase  ;  day  by  day 
added  new  recruits  ;  and,  inspired  by  the  desire  for  a 
Virginia  victory,  natives  and  northern  emissaries 
madly  pressed  on,  and  by  their  shouts  and  boasts 
declared  the  victory  won.  Many  a  lover  of  the  Old 
Dominion  was  made  to  shudder,  fearing  that  their 
words  were  true.  Consternation  and  dread  was 
beginning  to  spread  in  the  heretofore  sanguine  ranks 
of  Democracy.  All  eyes  were  then  turned  towards 
their  leader ;  he  came  forth,  and  ere  the  tones  of  his 
first  address  had  died  away,  Know  Nothingism  in 
Virginia  had  received  its  first  weakening  blow  ;  and 
here  began  the  decline  of  the  Know  Nothing  party, 
heretofore  waxing  strong,  and  daily  becoming  more 
obnoxious' to  all  lovers  of  order  and  morality. 


154:       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA 

The  bold  and  manly  stand  thus  taken  by  the 
Democratic  leader  was  regarded  by  the  opposition 
as  a  warning  voice  to  more  vigorous  action  and 
endeavor  on  their  art,  and  hence  it  was  that  their 
former  efforts  in  furtherance  of  their  designs  were 
but  the  mild  preparations,  initiatory  to  a  course  of 
unparalleled  disregard  for  decency,  honesty,  and 
truth.  Now  it  was  that  the  infernal  machines,  which 
had  been  employed  at  the  North  with  such  melan 
choly  effects,  blasting  to  every  sentiment  of  truth, 
conservatism,  and  nationality,  were  forwarded  South, 
and  distributed  among  the  peace  and  order-loving 
citizens  of  Virginia,  here  to  deal  out  its  work  of 
moral  death,  or  leave  behind  its  foul  contagion  of 
political  pollution.  And,  strange  to  say,  men  of 
sterling  worth,  of  irreproachable  character,  distin 
guished  for  intelligence,  men  whose  every  interest 
was  identified  with  Virginia,  were  so  blinded  by  the 
deceptive  glare  of  the  dark  lantern,  as  to  take 
charge  of  these  infernal  machines,  arid  with  their 
thumbs  upon  the  secret  springs,  went  about  stealthily, 
traversing  dark  holes  and  corners,  and  there  let  loose 
Northern  explosive  elements,  the  chief  of  which  was 
Know  Nothingism,  upon  the  devoted  heads  of  Vir 
ginians  ;  some  too  ignorant  to  detect  the  true  nature 
of  those  principles,  many  too  honest  and  unsuspect 
ing  to  think  of  fraud  and  deceit  in  others. 

All  the  resolves  of  the  Council,  to  which  reference 
was  made  in  the  thirteenth  chapter,  were  now  carried 
into  practical  and  systematical  operation.  The 
honorable  committee  appointed  by  the  Council  to 
concoct  ingeniously  wrought  yarns  against  the 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIKGINIA.      155 

Democratic  nominees,  held  its  sessions,  and  never 
was  a  committee  more  faithful  to  the  object  and 
intent  of  its  appointment.  Sam's  boys  surely 
exulted  in  the  distinguished  ability  with  which  the 
duties  of  that  committee  were  discharged,  and 
thought  they  discovered  faint  indications  of  success 
glimmering  through  the  thick  and  black  net-work 
of  fabrication  daily  put  forth  for  the  edification  and 
encouragement  of  the  members  of  the  secret  party. 

Long  and  illustrious  was  the  list  of  doughty  com 
petitors  who  strove  for  the  gold  medal  offered  by  the 
Council,  to  which  reference  was  also  made  in  the 
thirteenth  chapter.  So  much  talent,  ingenuity,  and 
skill  was  called  into  play  in  this  behalf,  that  it  was 
only  by  long,  weary,  and  arduous  sittings,  that  the 
judges  were  enabled  to  decide  on  whom  the  honor 
and  the  medal  for  the  biggest  story  should  fall.  In  fact, 
it  was  found  to  be  a  matter  of  utter  impossibility 
ever  to  decide  between  the  comparative  merits  of 
several  that  were  presented,  as  to  which  was  the 
biggest.  In  this  respect,  they  were  equal ;  and  not 
until  the  worthy  judges  took  into  consideration  the 
probable  efficiency  and  practical  utility  that  thoy 
could  come  to  a  decision.  The  occasion  of  presenta 
tion  was  one  of  much  pomp  and  circumstance,  a 
description  of  which  will  hereafter  be  given. 

The  next  instruction,  noticed  in  the  thirteenth 
chapter,  which  issued  from  the  Council  in  session  to 
their  political  friends,  was  that  the  foreign  question 
should  be  made  the  great  issue  of  the  campaign. 
The  leader  of  the  Virginia  Democracy  was  in  sym 
pathy  with  the  administration ;  the  administration 


156      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

was  anti- American,  and  the  Democracy  of  Virginia 
was  to  be  weakened  through  the  administration  ;  and 
to  this  end,  a  table  of  statistics  was  made  out,  exhi 
biting  a  vast  majority  of  the  federal  offices  as  being 
filled  by  foreigners. '  How  they  expected  to  accom 
plish  anything  by  this  means  it  is  impossible  to  con 
ceive,  as  it  was  a  most  barefaced  outrage  upon  truth, 
and  its  perpetrators  must  have  known  that  nothing 
was  easier  than  to  stamp  it  as  such.  The  members 
of  the  party  being  sworn  to  obey  instructions,  at 
once  participated  in  that  abominable  and  disgraceful 
expedient  of  arraying  class  against  class.  This 
practice,  whether  for  political  or  any  conceivable  end, 
cannot  be  censured  strongly  enough  by  words  and 
ideas.  It  is  one  of  the  evil  devices  sometimes  re 
sorted  to,  the  disgustful  abhorrence  of  which  cannot 
be  expressed  by  the  right  minded  of  mankind,  but 
only  felt,  pitied,  and  lamented. 

Whatever  may  be  the  evils  of  emigration  to  this 
country,  it  affects  for  the  most  part  the  Northern 
States ;  and  when  this  course  was  resorted  to  in  Vir 
ginia  it  was  only  an  exhibition  of  the  most  wanton 
and  illegitimate  proscription.  Admit  that  these 
foreigners  are  troublesome  and  a  burthen  to  some  of 
the  States  north  of  this  latitude,  is  that  any  reason 
why  Virginia  should  compromise  her  reputation  for 
charity  and  philanthropy?  Is  Virginia  so  far  be 
holden  to  those  who  are  from  time  to  time  robbing 
her  of  her  property,  and  setting  at  naught  a  great 
Constitution  which  she  at  least  has  always  regarded 
as  too  sacred  to  be  tampered  with,  as  to  lend  herself 
a  willing  tool  for  the  correction  of  evils  that  affect 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIEGINIA.      157 

only  those  people  ?  Does  the  Know  Nothing  creed 
contain  the  principle  that  States,  like  men,  when 
smote  on  one  cheek  should  turn  the  other?  or  that 
States,  like  Christians,  should  return  good  for  evil  ? 
If  such  indeed  be  their  creed,  they  could  hardly 
hope  to  find  a  Southern  independent  sovereignty 
such  as  Virginia,  to  practice  these  pious  rules  of  con 
duct.  If -emigration  be  an  evil,  it  should  be  corrected 
by  those  who  inhabit  the  regions  where  the  evils  are 
felt.  When  the  Yankees  let  our  slaves  alone,  it  will 
then  be  time  enough  for  them  to  ask  our  assistance 
in  ridding  them  of  any  evil;  surely,  not  till  then 
should  Virginians  volunteer  it.  Has  this  State  ever 
felt  that  her  foreign  population  was  a  burthen  to  her? 
Her  population  of  this  class  is  spare,  and  they  are  for 
the  most  part  worthy  and  useful  citizens,  infinitely 
more  so  than  the  straggling  Yankees  who  sometimes 
stray  in  this  direction,  having  escaped  from  the  din 
and  confusion  of  a  tin-cup  manufactory,  the  routine 
and  drudgery  of  a  notion  emporium,  or  from  the  pre 
cincts  of  one  of  those  modern  establishments,  digni 
fied  with  the  name  of  college,  where  Yankee  youths 
are  taught  new  and  improved  theories  in  every  imagi 
nable  branch  of  education,  from  the  most  approved 
method  of  currying  Jackasses  in  English  to  the  safest 
way  of  crossing  Coesar's  bridge  in  Latin,  the  locality 
of  which  is  said  to  be  but  a  few  paces  this  side  of 
Yankee  graduation. 

There  was  a  time  when  foreigners  were  not  so 
abused  in  this  country — there  was  a  time  when  the 
natives  stood  upon  the  beach  and  gave  him  a  hearty 
welcome  to  America.  There  was  a  time  when  he 


158      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

was  wanted,  and  none  thought  of  laws  to  expel  him. 
That  was  the  dark  and  troublesome  time,  when  the 
British  lion  sent  over  his  whelps  of  tyranny,  and 
thought  to  perpetuate  bondage  in  America.  Death 
to  bondage  and  oppression,  was  the  cry  of  those  that 
purchased  our  liberties;  and  that  cry  was  nobly 
responded  to  by  those  foreigners  t  en  in  America. 
They  armed  themselves  as  Americans — they  fought 
side  by  side  with  Americans — they  bled  and  died  for 
America.  Then,  this  country  was  weak,  and  needed 
foreign  aid,  now,  it  is  strong,  and  there  has  arisen  a 
party  anxious  to  drive  them  from  our  shores. 

The  descendant  of  some  patriotic  hero,  whose 
blood  was  drunk  by  American  soil,  whose  body  filled 
a  soldier's  grave,  whose  right  arm  struck  valiantly 
for  our  liberties,  might  come  to  this  country,  feeling 
that  his  ancestor  bequeathed  him  an  interest  in  these 
liberties,  as  enjoyed  by  Americans.  What  would 
this  party  say  to  him  on  his  arrival  ?  "  You  are 
permitted  to  land  in  this  country,  to  take  care  of 
yourself,  if  you  can,  to  enrich  yourself,  if  you  can  ; 
but  farther  than  this,  we  grant  you  no  permission ; 
especially,  do  we  enjoin  it  upon  you  to  stay  away 
from  the  ballot  box,  as  '  Americans  must  rule 
America.'  We  esteem  the  right  of  suffrage  too 
highly  to  be  participated  in  by  any  but  Americans. 
We  cannot  acknowledge  that  you  derive  any  claim 
upon  this  country  through  your  ancestor,  however 
heroic,  brave  and  true  he  might  have  been.  Be  con 
tent,  then,  to  live  in  our  land,  f>nd  to  receive  the 
protection  of  our  laws.  But  ask  not  for  farther 
privileges."  And  within  this  narrow  compass  would 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   UF    riAM    IN   VIRGINIA.      159 

Know  Nothings  proscribe  foreigners ;  they  grant 
them  life  and  laws  to  protect  them,  and  their  pro 
perty  ;  they  grant  them  a  free  passport  to  roam  at 
will  in  this  land  of  liberty — settle  our  western  wilds, 
contribute  to  our  country's  wealth,  and  free  to  par 
ticipate  in  all  the  grosser  things  of  earth  that  minister 
to  the  mere  animal  nature  of  man.  But  some  of  the 
higher  attributes  of  man,  for  instance,  the  refined 
sentiment  of  liberty,  the  full  appreciation  of  which 
can  only  be  induced  by  the  practical  enjoyment  of 
its  dearest  privilege — the  right  to  choose  one's  rulers 
and  law-makers.  Of  this  privilege  he  is  debarred  ; 
and  must  remain  a  stranger  to  liberty's  sweetest 
right,  in  the  land  of  liberty ;  although  he  has 
abjured  his  realm,  sworn  allegiance  to  the  United 
States,  been  here  sufficiently  long  to  become  ac 
quainted  with  our  institutions,  and  has  identified 
himself  thoroughly  with  the  interests  of  the  country. 
What  then  is  his  condition  ?  He  finds  himself 
under  the  shadow  of  the  great  tree  of  liberty,  whose 
roots  have  grown  deep  in  American  soil,  whose  great 
branches,  like  protecting  arms  to  the  world,  are 
reaching  out  and  extending  to  all  parts  of  the  earth. 
This  tree  affords  him  shelter  and  protection  from  the 
tyrant's  cruel  persecution ;  showers  of  blessings 
descend  from  its  branches,  some  of  which  he  is  per 
mitted  to  enjoy,  though  the  most  choice  fruit  must 
fall  for  natives.  And  then,  it  is  the  happy  custom 
of  the  country  for  every  man,  if  he  choses  to  dig 
around  the  roots  of  this  tree,  to  give  it  life,  vigor 
and  perpetuity.  But  while  this  interesting  work  is 
going  on,  the  poor  foreigner,  who  is  as  much  inter- 


160      LIFE   AND   LEAT1I   OF   SAM    IN   VIRGINIA. 

ested  as  any,  in  its  vigor  and  perpetuity,  must  stand 
aloof,  and  never  deal  his  blow.  Such  is  the  sordid 
nature  of  the  Yankee,  such  his  narrow  mind,  always 
intent  on  gain  and  thrift,  that  he  has  no  time  to 
devote  to  heart  feelings;  no  time  to  calculate  the 
nobler  sentiments  of  man  ;  therefore,  it  is  not  aston 
ishing  that  he  should  cherish  no  fond  remembrance, 
no  grateful  emotions,  for  those  foreigners  who  fought 
at  Bunker  Hill,  and  on  every  northern  plain  where 
American  shot  were  aimed  at  British  hearts.  That 
the  Yankee  should  play  an  ungrateful  part  astonishes 
none. 

Again,  since  money  is  his  god,  and  foreigners 
generally  present  to  him  but  feeble  opportunities  of 
making  money  from,  it  is  not  very  astonishing  that 
he  should  seek  to  keep  them  out  of  the  country ;  but 
that  a  large  number  of  Virginians  should  be  found  to 
take  up  this  hue  and  cry  against  the  foreigners  was 
surely  not  to  have  been  expected.  Virginia's  enemies 
sometimes  throw  at  her  the  taunt,  that  she  lives  on 
her  memories ;  but  so  far  from  its  being  a  taunt,  it  is 
her  pride  to  cherish  memories  of  the  past.  It  is  one 
of  her  glories  that  she  has  a  Yorktown,  with  its  his 
torical  associations,  within  her  borders ;  'tis  one  of  her 
pleasures — and  while  a  pleasure,  her  honor — to  cherish 
for  the  brave  Lafayette,  and  all  the  foreign  soldiers  m 
the  War  of  Independence,  the  remembrance  due  their 
deeds  and  sacrifices. 

The  cold,  calculating  Yankee  settles  all  the  accounts 
of  those  who  fought  for  America  in  dollars  and  cents — 
the  soldier  had  his  pay.  With  generous  southerners 
their  accounts  are  never  settled,  but  their  deeds  live 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       161 

in  their  hearts  to  all  time,  and  their  descendants  offered 
a  home  in  the  land  their  fathers  died  to  defend,  How 
then  was  this  hue  and  cry  raised  in  Virginia  ?  How 
was  it  that  that  Yankee  voice  was  echoed  and  re 
echoed  in  the  South  ?  For  answer,  the  reader  has  but 
to  step  behind  the  scene,  and  read  the  commands 
issued  by  the  Council  to  its  liege  men  and  oath-bound 
subjects,  that  the  foreign  question  was  to  be  the  prime 
issue  in  the  campaign.  The  command  issued  from 
honorable  and  respectable  men — men  who  had  the 
advantages  of  wealth,  education  and  position  in 
society.  Their  example  was  a  soothing  salve  to  the 
consciences  of  many  who,  without  the  light  of  such 
worthy  examples,  would  have  been  troubled  with 
many  scruples;  and  doubtless  the  inborn  sense  of 
right,  honesty  and  justice  battled  with  the  oaths  many 
a  Virginian  had  taken,  as  he  went  about  doing  the  will 
of  his  masters — as  he  went  about  arraying  class  against 
class,  exciting  the  prejudices  of  the  native  against 
the  foreigner.  When  he  met  his  neighbor  in  .the  road, 
and  told  him  that  the  administration  was  the  friend 
of  the  foreigner,  and  the  enemy  of  the  native,  proba 
bly  he  did  not  know  he  was  telling  a  lie ;  his  masters 
had  directed  him  to  say  this — he  thought  his  masters 
were  true  and  honest  men,  who  would  scorn  to  deceive. 
When  on  public  occasions  he  exhibited  his  table  of 
statistics,  showing  the  large  number  of  foreigners  in 
office,  he  did  not  know  that  table  was  a  base  fraud, 
prepared  by  foul  hands  for  disgraceful  purposes.  And 
thus  it  happened  that  many  honest  Virginians  were 
made  dupes  and  tools  to  a  scheme  and  practice  which 
their  sense  of  honor  would  scorn  to  countenance. 

14* 


162        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  campaign  was  now  waxing  warm.  Politics  is 
the  only  subject  now  discussed  in  Virginia.  It  is  the 
latter  part  of  January.  As  yet  the  Know  Nothings 
have  not  nominated  their  candidates ;  for  reasons  they 
prefer  to  have  their  men  but  a  short  time  before  the 
people.  Mischievous  people  might  draw  inferences 
from  this  fact,  but  not  being  envious  to  be  classed 
among  the  mischievous,  we  shall  draw  none,  but  leave 
the  task  to  the  reader,  who  can  satisfy  his  own  tastes 
on  the  subject.  In  the  midst  of  a  political  canvass  in 
Virginia,  where  do  we  find  wire- working  and  election 
eering  carried  on  with  intense  interest  and  industry? 
All  will  answer,  on  the  Court-green  on  Court  days. 
Therefore,  in  putting  down  "jottings  "  about  Sam,  it 
might  probably  be  amiss  to  overlook  him  on  the 
Court-green,  where  he  was  quite  busy,  and  seemed  to 
feel  as  if  he  was  in  the  very  height  of  his  glory.  We 
will  sketch  him  as  he  was  on  the  Court-green  of  the 
county  seat  of  the  good  old  county  of ,  in  east 
ern  Virginia ;  which  will  probably  apply  to  him  as  he 
appeared  at  corresponding  places  on  like  occasions,  in 
different  parts  of  the  old  Commonwealth. 

The  county  seat  of county  is  a  modest, 

unostentatious  place.  A  tavern-house,  court-house, 
clerk's  office  and  jail  are  the  buildings  of  the  quiet 
village,  all  told.  The  Court-house  bears  the  marks  of 
time  upon  its  weather-beaten  exterior.  Its  architec- 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       163 

ture  is  of  antique  pattern,  and  might  have  been  called 
a  handsome  structure  at  the  time  it  was  erected.  A 
stranger,  whose  eyes  are  accustomed  to  look  upon  a 
handsome  hall  of  justice,  might  say,  I  should  expect 
the  pride  of  the  present  generation  would  prompt  to 
the  desire  to  tear  down  the  ancient  walls  and  erect  a 
modern  structure  on  its  site.  But  ah  !  hallowed  asso 
ciations  are  connected  with  the  building.  The  voice 
of  soldier-patriots,  in  the  times  that  tried  men's  souls, 
resounded  there,  calling  men  to  action.  To  tear  the 
old  house  down  would  be  to  break  a  link  that  binds 
the  hearts  of  the  county's  sovereigns  to  the  past. 
Years  ago,  a  soldier  stood  there,  calling  men  to  arms 
to  protect  the  rights  of  man.  There  might  be  some 
thing  to  justify  the  stranger's  conclusion,  did  not  the 
year  1855  find  men  upon  the  same  spot,  desecrating 
the  sanctity  of  the  place  by  calling  upon  men  to  enlist 
in  a  cause  threatening  to  Virginia's  honor.  Virginia 
Know  Nothings  were  there  electioneering.  How  did 
they  electioneer?  Were  ever  such  means  before 
resorted  to  ?  They  did  not  attempt  to  reason.  They 
addressed  no  arguments  to  men's  understanding. 
They  did  not  fortify  their  position  with  facts ;  were 
content  with  assertions,  and  with  these  were  prodigal 
enough.  The  first  thing  each  and  all  of  them  did, 
was  to  disclaim,  with  all  the  force  and  power  of  words, 
that  they  had  no  connection  with  "  the  Order ;"  but 
in  the  very  next  breath,  would  try  to  indoctrinate 
men  with  what  they  called  American  principles,  and 
endeavor  to  inveigle  them  into  the  order.  When  they 
fell  upon  a  man  who  did  not  read  the  papers,  and 
keep  up  with  the  events  of  the  times,  it  was  an  easy 


164       LIFE   AND   I}EATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

matter  to  say,  "  What  do  you  think  of  Sam  ?  He  is 
about,  ain't  he  ?  It  is  a  glorious  party — it  will  save 
the  country ;  come,  I  will  join  if  you  will.  I  hardly 
know  your  politics ;  but  I  tell  you  it  is  neither  a 
Whig  or  Democratic  move,  but  a  move  of  Americans 
against  foreigners  and  Catholics."  This  was  a  favorite 
mode  of  electioneering. 

Another  mode,  in  which  they  exhibited  some 
ingenuity,  was  to  address  themselves  to  the  aspiring 
politicians;  which  class  of  men  constitute  no  very 
inconsiderable  portion  of  the  Virginia  population. 
They  would  first  worm  themselves  into  the  confi 
dence  of  a  man,  by  flattery  or  otherwise,  then  declare 
that  they  have  no  connection  with  any  order,  express 
sympathy  for  the  American  cause,  own  to  great  ad 
miration  for  the  talents  and  abilities  of  the  prey  they 
were  cunningly  fixing  their  talons  upon,  and  give 
the  finishing  touch  to  the  conference,  by  declaring 
that  if  he  would  join  "the  Order,"  his  merits  would 
be  appreciated,  and  he  would  at  once  be  promoted  to 
some  political  office.  Every  aspiring  man  upon  the 
ground  was  approached  in  this  manner,  the  same 
pledges  made  to  all,  and  not  an  application  failed, 
when  the  ropes  were  brought  to  pull  upon  a  weak 
head,  with  a  credulous  turn  of  mind.  Could  a  list 
of  all  that  were  brought  into  the  Order  by  this  trick 
be  published,  it  would  astonish  many,  and  be  a 
strong  argument  to  prove  that  cupidity  and  credulity 
were  qualities  not  entirely  wanting  in  Virginians. 

Another  mode  of  electioneering  was  adopted,  after 
the  following  fashion.  Private  interviews  were  held 
with  laboring  men  and  mechanics,  and  with  these 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       165 

men  their  class-arraying  speeches  were  made.  "Lis 
ten,"  said  they,  "you  are  poor  men,  you  have  your 
families  to  support,  your  little  ones  are  crying  unto 
you  for  bread,  how  are  your  wants  to  be  supplied  ?  by 
the  profits  derived  from  your  trade.  You  may  pos 
sibly,  find  it  a  Lard  matter  to  maintain  respectable 
circumstances  now.  Do  you  want  your  chances  of 
gaining  a  respectable  livelihood  diminished?  Your 
chances  though  are  diminished,  more  and  more  every 
day,  through  means  which  have  probably  never  been 
suggested  to  your  mind.  The  foreigners  that  are 
pressing  to  this  country  are  fast  undermining  you, 
they  for  the  most  part  are  laborers  and  mechanics ; 
and  every  one  that  comes  enters  at  once  into  compe 
tition  with  you.  Of  all  classes  in  this  country,  you 
are  more  seriously  effected.  "What  then,  does  the  first 
great  law  of  nature,  self-preservation,  bid  you  do? 
What  does  charity,  which  beginneth  at  home,  bid 
you  do?  Why,  to  join  the  party  which  is  hostile  to 
foreigners,  and  would  protect  native  industry,  the 
party  which  is  purely  and  emphatically  the  saving- 
friend  to  all  poor  Americans.  The  party  which  your 
wants  demanded,  and  which  has  arisen  in  obedience  to 
the  crying  voice  of  the  poor  of  America,  saying,  '  help, 
save,  or  we  perish  ?'  That  party  is  now  established 
on  a  sound,  conservative,  and  lasting  basis ;  onward 
it  speeds  in  its  mission  of  love  and  charity.  Will  you 
not  then,  contribute  towards  the  success  of  this  party? 
Ask  your  neighbor,  B.,  who  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
joined  this  party,  if  all  of  this  is  not  true.  Apply  to 
your  neighbor,  L.,  who  is  a  Whig,  and  has  also 
joined,  and  he  will  say  the  same  to  you ;  so  you  will 


166       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN  VIRGINIA. 

• 
find  the  old  political  parties  have  nothing  to  do  with 

tins  organization.  Be  you  Whig  or  Democrat,  in 
joining  this  Order,  there  will  be  nothing  to  conflict 
with  your  opinions." 

As  usual,  on  Court  days,  during  a  political  canvass, 
a  large  number  of  sovereigns  were  collected.  Very 
few  had  business  in  Court;  the  great  majority  having 
come  for  no  other  purpose  but  to  see  what  was  trans 
piring  in  a  political  way ;  on  this  occasion,  the  Court 
adjourned  at  an  early  hour,  much  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  lawyers,  who  thereby  gained  an  opportunity 
of  mixing  with  the  people,  and  of  indulging  in  their 
gift  of  gab,  in  discoursing  on  politics.  Groups  of  gen 
tlemen  were  seen  standing  about  on  the  Court  green  ; 
here  and  there,  off  at  a  distance,  and  in  the  corners, 
industrious  members  of  the  American  Order  would 
hold  a  solitary  sovereign  by  the  button-hole,  and  most 
beautifully  discourse  with  him  on  the  wondrous  and 
manifold  beauties  of  the  valiant  Samuel.  The  land 
lord  of  the  tavern  had  once  voted  with  the  Democracy ; 
but  of  late  had  given  evidence  as  if  he  were  about  to 
fall  from  the  faith,  and  some  said  he  had  already 
fallen  in  the  arms  of  Sam.  However  this  may  be, 
one  thing  is  certain,  at  all  time  of  the  day,  men  were 
seen  going  and  returning  on  his  stairs,  which  led  to 
a  dark,  cuddy  way  up  in  the  "cock-loft"  of  the 
house.  These  men,  going  and  returning,  were  mem 
bers  of  the  Order,  and  doubtless  they  were  prepared 
up  there  to  show  Sam  and  "  Bed-eye,"  to  whoever 
desired  to  behold  the  one  or  the  other. 

How  did  the  doings  of  these  men,  on  this  occasion, 
compare  with  the  conduct  of  the  Democracy  ?  What 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       167 

the  members  of  this  party  had  to  say,  was  said  openly 
and  above  board.  They  were  not  ashamed  of  their 
name  and  party;  therefore,  if  they  electioneered 
they  did  not  call  themselves  mere  sympathisers  with 
the  Democracy,  but  were  proud  to  declare  themselves 
as  standing  upon  that  platform.  They  did  not  seize 
upon  ignorant  men,  and  try  to  deceive  and  mislead 
them.  They  did  not  avail  themselves  of  the  unfortu 
nate  weakness  of  aspiring  politicians,  and  promise 
them  honors  and  rewards  if  they  would  give  in  their 
adhesion  to  the  Democracy.  They  did  not  condescend 
to  use  the  bread  and  meat  argument  with  the  poor,  and 
promise  fat  things  from  Democracy's  store.  In  short, 
they  resorted  to  none  of  the  small  tricks  adopted  by 
the  opposition.  They  boldly  warned  men  against 
the  many  seductive  appliances  brought  to  bear  upon 
them  by  those  who  were  endeavoring  to  inculcate 
dangerous  and  mischievous  dogmas  in  politics,  and 
called  upon  Virginians  to  stand  by  their  ancient 
faith,  to  be  governed  by  the  same  old  landmarks 
which  had  brought  this  nation  to  its  present  proud 
position.  They  dwelt  with  pride  upon  what  the 
Virginia  Democracy,  in  times  gone  by,  had  done  for 
the  country ;  pointed  to  the  crisis  soon  to  come,  and 
asked  if  Virginia's  valiant  and  tried  men  would  then 
be  found  wanting  ? 

In  the  evening,  proclamation  was  made  that  a 
Democratic  orator  would  address  the  people  on  the 
issues  involved  in  the  campaign.  The  speaker 
mounted  the  stand,  and  made  a  stirring  appeal  to  the 
people.  His  address  concluded,  invitation  was  then 
publicly  given  to  some  champion  of  the  opposition 


168       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 

to  come  forward  and  speak  for  his  people.  But 
where  was  Sam,  that  he  made  no  response  ?  Ah  ;  at 
this  day  he  was  not  allowed  to  speak  in  public,  so  it 
is  fair  to  presume  that  he  was  up  in  the  dark  cuddy, 
with  closed  doors,  there  working  in  secrecy,  binding 
men  with  oaths,  there  doing  the  bidding  of  his 
Yankee  friends,  there  forming  plans,  which,  if  the 
objects  contemplated  could  be  consummated,  ruin 
and  wars,  destruction,  calamity  and  death,  might  call 
for  a  pall  around  a  nation's  name ! ! 

Later  in  the  afternoon,  the  natural  result  produced 
by  a  too  intimate  acquaintance  with  "  Red-eye,"  began 
to  tell  upon  many  of  Sam's  boys,  who  had  been  up  in 
the.  garret.  Now  it  was  that  confusion  and  excitement 
ran  high,  the  din  of  voices  rose  high,  and  what  the 
voices  were  trying  to  say  was  difficult  to  ascertain, 
though  now  and  then  the  name  of  Sam  was  pronounced, 
and  distinctly  heard  far  above  the  voice  of  the  multi 
tude.  An  occasional  scuffle,  a  rough,  roll  and  tumble 
skirmish,  gave  variety  to  the  scene,  and  a  few  bloody 
noses  and  black  eyes  gave  variety  to  the  countenances 
of  those  engaged  in  the  melee.  But  Sam's  friends  wi're 
not  the  only  ones  who  had  imbibed  a  "drop  too  much ;'» 
several  good  Democratic  boys  had  a  weakness  for  the 
ardent  critter,  and  having  passed  the  quiet  and  pru 
dent  condition,  added  a  note  or  two  to  the  harmoni 
ous  music  of  the  day. 

The  Christian  name  of  one  of  these  was  Sam ;  an 
odd  sort  of  a  fellow  he  was,  too ;  and  not  being  in 
the  secrets,  he  was  somewhat  puzzled  at  hearing  his 
name  so  often  called,  so  by  way  of  showing  his  spunk, 
he  declared  that  "  if  any  gentleman  wanted  "him,  he 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        169 

was  upon  the  ground,  ready  to  give  him  satisfaction, 
or  whatever  else  he  wanted."  No  one  taking  any 
special  notice  of  his  proclamations,  and  the  shouts 
and  hurrahs  "  for  Sam"  becoming  louder  and  louder 
every  moment,  he  started  off,  in  a  doubtful  gait, 
towards  home,  with  the  vague  impression  upon  his 
mind  that  by  some  lucky  exploit  he  had  immortalized 
himself,  or  else  his  fellow-citizens  would  not  cheer 
and  applaud  him  so  enthusiastically.  The  sovereigns 
now  began  to  start  for  their  homes,  leaving  many  of 
Sam's  boys  addressing  fence  posts,  descanting  on  the 
many  excellencies  of  the  American  organization. 
And  thus  ended  a  day  upon  the  court  green,  in  the 

old  county  of ,  during  the  political  campaign  of 

1855. 

Through  such  arts  and  appliances  this  party  had 
triumphed  in  many  States,  and  even  in  local  elections 
in  Virginia;  and  this  it  was  that  emboldened  them  to 
hope  for  a  triumph  in  the  State.  That  they  had 
succeeded  through  these  means  in  carrying  towns 
and  cities  in  Virginia,  was  no  argument  for  them  to 
have  raised  their  calculations  for  the  State.  Those 
who  dwell  in  cities  and  towns  in  Virginia  are,  hap 
pily  for  her,  not  those  who  shape,  mould,  and  give 
tone  to  her  character  and  position.  Virginia's  power 
and  strength  lies  in  a  harder  race  than  that  which 
dwells  in  stone  houses  and  in  shops.  The  hardy  sons 
of  toil,  the  tillers  of  her  soil,  are  those  that  Virginia 
looks  up  to  for  support — >upon  whose  broad  shoulders 
rests  that  dignity  which  commands  for  her  a  place- 
first  in  influence  among  the  States  of  the  American 
Union.  Merchants  and  merchant's  clerks;  shop  owners 

15 


170       LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIliGINIA. 

and  those  who  keep  their  counters,  with  all  the  trades 
that  belong  to  and  of  towns,  may  waver  and  yield  to 
encroachments  on  the  time-honored  usages  in  politics 
— but  Virginia's  farmers,  never.  A  secret  party  in 
politics ;  that  was  enough,  they  cared  not  to  inquire 
what  the  principles  of  that  party  might  be.  There  is 
a  deeply  running  tide  of  virtue  and  correct  feeling, 
a  sound  conservative  sentiment,  found  to  pervade  the 
agricultural  classes  of  the  mother  State,  obnoxious  to 
fanaticism  in  whatever  phase  it  may  present  itself, 
and  suspicious  of  all  new  ideas  in  morals,  religion,  or 
politics,  especially,  if  they  be  of  northern  origin.  How 
then  could  Know  Nothings  hope  that  their  principles 
would  be  acceptable  to  the  Virginia  fanners  ?  How 
could  they  hope  that  the  State  which  gave  from  its 
rural  districts  first  a  Washington  to  liberty,  and  next, 
a  Jefferson  to  Democracy,  would,  in  1855,  give  aid  to 
a  party  which  would  jeopardize  the  blessings  which 
her  first  son  gained  for  her,  aid  to  a  party  which 
would  trample  upon  the  rich  legacy  bequeathed  her 
by  her  second.  There  is  a  saving  power  in  the  agri 
cultural  districts  of  Virginia,  to  which  all  friends  of 
law  and  order — all  friends  of  the  principle  which  de 
clares  honesty  the  best  policy — all  friends  of  right 
against  wrong — all  friends  of  liberality  and  moderation 
in  opposition  to  proscription — all  friends  of  peace  and 
union  in  opposition  to  strife  and  disorganization,  may 
look  to  with  confidence  in  all  times  of  danger,  with 
out  one  fear  that  this  power  will  not  be  exerted  in 
the  proper  direction. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       171 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

IT  will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  II.  Uriah  Hawks, 
in  his  last  communication  to  the  Council,  which  com 
munication  was  written  about  the  first  of  December, 
stated  that  he  contemplated  taking  a  partner  for  life 
"week  after  next."  For  some  cause,  the  day  was 
postponed  to  the  latter  part  of  January,  and  as  we 
have  brought  this  history  down  to  that  period,  it  will 
be  in  order  at  this  place  to  respect  the  great  event  in 
that  gentleman's  life,  and  give  an  account  of  it  here. 

It  was  a  cold,  frosty  night,  a  large  number  of 
neighbors  had  assembled  in  old  Mr.  Laubinger's 
house,  where  the  ajnple  wood  fires  were  cracking 
and  blazing  most  merrily.  The  hilarity  of  the  occa 
sion  was  suddenly  suppressed  by  the  entrance  of  the 
neighborhood  parson,  who  took  his  stand  in  the  middle 
of  the  floor.  All  was  still  and  expectant ;  a  rustling 
was  then  heard  in  the  next  room,  and  in  the  next 
moment  Mr.  Uriah  Hawks  proudly  led  in  Miss  Lucy 
Laubinger,  preceded  by  six  couples  of  attendants,  and 
stood  before  the  worthy  parson.  The  ceremony  was 
progressing,  and  during  this  time  the  father  was  in  con 
versation  with  a  young  man  who  had  just  arrived. 
There  was  an  earnestness  exhibited  in  the  young  man's 
manner,  as  he  strongly  emphasized  the  few  whispers  he 
was  enabled  to  make.  His  communication  seemed  to 
give  a  doubtful  cast  to  the  old  man's  countenance, 
but  in  an  instant,  resolution,  if  not  anger,  took  its 


172       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

place,  and  when  the  officiating  clergyman  asked,  "  if 
there  was  any  one  present  who  could  show  just  cause 
why  these  two  persons  should  not  be  joined  together, 
let  him  now  speak,  or  forever  after  hold  his  peace  ?" 
The  old  man  stepped  forward,  and  requested  the 
minister  to  proceed  no  further  in  the  ceremony. 

"  Neighbors  and  friends,"  said  the  old  man,  "  'tis 
only  the  stern  command  of  what  I  conceive  to  be  my 
duty  to  myself  and  daughter,  yea,  to  my  whole 
family,  that  bids  me  interfere  in  this  manner,  at  this 
juncture,  after  the  matter  has  progressed  thus  far.  A 
moment's  delay,  but  a  pause,  would  be  fatal ;  had  her 
deliverer  delayed  but  a  moment  longer,  it  would 
have  been  too  late.  Thank  Heaven  it  is  no  worse  ! 
I  do,  therefore,  now,  in  the  presence  of  this  assembled 
company,  declare  that  that  man  shall  not  marry  my 
daughter.  In  justice  to  all  parties  I  will  state  my 
reasons.  The  first  and  greatest  is,  that  he  has  most 
basely  Deceived  me.  He  well  knew  my  politics,  he 
knew  in  what  estimation  I  held  those  who  are  called 
Know  Nothings,  and  being  one  himself,  true  to  the 
instincts  and  practices  of  those  who  belong  to  that 
organization,  he  never  told  me  he  belonged  to  that  party. 
But  a  young  gentleman  is  here  prepared  to  prove 
the  fact.  My  daughter,  you  doubtless  love  that  man 
with  that  devotion  due  to  the  act  you  were  about  to 
consummate.  I  pray  that  this  cup  of  sorrow,  which 
this  act  of  mine  will  bring  upon  you,  will  soon  pass 
away.  Bear  up,  my  child,  with  a  stout  heart,  against 
this  sudden  and  unexpected  change  of  fortune.  But 
you  had  better  die ;  I  would  rather  lay  you  in  your 
cold,  cold  grave;  rather  drop  a  tear,  however  bitter  it 


LIFE    AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       173 

might  be,  upon  your  bier,  than  see  you  living,  and 
wedded  to  a  man  belonging  to  a  political  party  whose 
practices  and  principles  are  a  black  tissue,  a  rotten 
medly  of  Yankee  abominations,  gotten  up  with  no 
other  view  than  that  of  bringing  internal  troubles  and 
difficulties  upon  this  happy  and  prosperous  land.  The 
originators  of  that  party  live  upon  excitement,  strife 
and  commotion  ;  let  it  then  be  confined  to  them,  for 
their  own  peculiar  use  and  behoof,  and  never,  no  never 
disgrace  Virginia  with  its  worse  than  abominable 
doctrines  and  teachings.  My  daughter,  withdraw 
now  your  arm  from  him  who  stands  beside  you ; 
and  that  he  may  not  go  away,  complaining  of  ill- 
treatment  and  injustice  at  my  hands,  my  good  friend 
Ike  Davis,  will  now  come  forward  and  confront  him, 
here,  in  the  presence  of  us  all." 

The  young  gentleman  called  upon,  then  came  for 
ward  and  stood  before  Uriah,  who  at  once  recognized 
him  as  the  same  man  that  he  had  half  initiated  into 
the  Order,  but  who  "  bolted,"  before  he  had  been 
fully  bound. 

Mr.  Davis  declared  that  he  knew,  of  his  own 
knowledge,  that  the  gentleman,  Mr.  Hawks,  was  a 
member  of  the  Know  Nothing  Order. 

Just  here,  old  Mrs.  Laubinger,  who  had  very 
becomingly  held  her  peace,  could  do  so  no  longer, 
she  must  and  would  have  her  say. 

"She  didn't  know  nothing  about  politics;  didn't 
care  any  thing  about  politics.  Mr.  Laubinger  might 
be  right,  or  he  might  be  wrong ;  she  could  not  decide 
that  question,  but  she  was  inclined  to  the  opinion  that 
he  was  wrong  in  acting  as  he  did ;  she  thought  the 

15* 


174       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

proper  course  was  to  let  them  be  married,  and  Mr. 
Laubinger  could  then  give  their  son  in-law  correct 
lessons  in  politics.  For  this  circumstance  to  go  forth 
to  the  world,  it  would  be  a  slander  upon  all  the  Lau- 
bingers.  There  too,  was  Lucy,  poor  child,  all  rigged 
up  and  beautified,  and  so  expectant  she  had  been,  and 
so  full  of  confidence  in  Mr.  Hawks ;  she  had  fore 
bodings  too,  of  "  Lucy's  mind  and  health,"  should 
Mr.  Laubinger's  counsels  prevail,  and  then  there  was 
all  the  trouble  and  preparations  she  had  been  at — all 
the  cakes,  pyramids,  jellies,  creams  and  syllabubs, 
which  would  all  spoil,  as  none  present  could  partici 
pate  in  them  under  the  circumstances." 

And  then  she  was  going  on  to  speak  of  Lucy's 
hopes  and  anticipations;  but  here  the  kind-hearted 
old  lady  fainted,  and  had  to  be  taken  out  of  the  room, 
and  the  "  usual  restoratives  applied." 

The  spectators  looked  upon  the  old  man,  to  see  if 
his  good  woman's  entreaty  had  produced  any  feelings 
of  relenting.  But  the  same  stern  determination  was 
fixed  upon  his  brow,  as  he  asked  Mr.  Hawks  if  he  had 
anything  to  say ;  "  if  so,  he  had  better  give  the  com 
pany  the  benefit  of  it,  especially  if,  by  possibility,  any 
extenuating  circumstances  could  be  mentioned  by  him 
self  in  his  behalf." 

"  Sir,"  said  Mr.  Hawks,  "  had  you  asked  for  an 
explanation  before  placing  me  in  this  questionable 
attitude  before  this  community,  it  would  have  been 
more  in  conformity  with  your  usual  upright  life  and 
character.  Unfortunately  for  me,  I  am  in  no  attitude 
to  defend  myself,  by  proof,  to  rebut  that  which  you 
thought  proper  to  produce  against  me,  in  the  person 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF   SAM   IX    VIRGINIA.        175 

of  this  young  gentleman  (Mr.  Ike  Davis).  I  have,  sir, 
but  the  word  of  a  gentleman  to  bear  me  out,  which 
you,  sir,  can  receive  or  reject  as  you  think  proper, 
(which  is  more  than  I  would  admit  of  under  other 
circumstances).  I  was,  sir,  at  one  time,  a  member  of 
the  organization  you  have  spoken  of.  The  young 
gentleman  who  has  pleased  to  give  you  this  informa 
tion,  was  himself  an  applicant  for  initiation  into  that 
order,  and  had  gone  half  way  through  the  forms  and 
ceremonies  of  the  occasion,  when  he  thought  proper 
to  leave  the  hall  without  receiving  the  final  oaths,  &c. 
Well,  sir,  soon  after  becoming  acquainted  with  you, 
and  having  frequent  opportunities  of  availing  myself 
of  your  superior  knowledge  of  parties  and  politics,  I 
wrote  to  the  proper  authorities,  and  demanded  my 
withdrawal  from  that  organization ;  I  also  expressed 
in  that  communication,  repentance  for  having  ever 
acted  with  that  party,  and  my  determination  of  acting, 
in  future,  with  the  Democracy.  So  far,  then,  from  any 
desire  to  deceive,  I  am  more  amenable  to  the  charge 
of  displaying  too  great  a  desire  to  sympathize  with 
the  father  of  my  betrothed.  But,  if  I  know  myself, 
this  charge  could  not  be  substantiated  against  me  ;  for 
my  head  was  convinced  by  arguments  from  you,  sir, 
and  others,  before  I  penned  the  letter  requesting  my 
withdrawal  card.  But  that  withdrawal  card  has  not 
yet  arrived,  why  so  I  am  unable  to  say." 

After  hearing  this,  the  old  man  was  somewhat 
mollified,  and  was  about  to  move  a  postponement,  in 
view  of  further  instigation,  when,  just  at  this  time, 
the  post-master  of  the  neighboring  village,  who  was 
present,  bethought  himself  of  a  letter  in  his  pocket 


176       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM    IX    VIRGINIA. 

which  he  had  brought  for  Mr.  Hawks;  this  was 
handed  him,  and  sure  enough,  it  was  the  withdrawal 
card.  Mr.  Hawks  glanced  over  it,  and  handed  it  to 
the  old  man,  who  read  it  aloud,  apologized  hand 
somely  to  Mr.  Hawks,  and  expressed  his  willingness 
that  the  ceremony  should  be  concluded. 

The  whole  scene  was  a  novel  one,  and  anything  but 
agreeable,  particularly  to  the  half  married  couple. 
The  old  lady  was  informed  of  the  reconciliation, 
awoke  from  her  swoon,  and  came  tearing  into  the 
room,  bearing  down  all  before  her,  and  in  her  anxiety 
to  congratulate  Lucy  and  her  new  son,  she  upset  the 
good  old  minister,  who  was  .just  giving  the  finishing 
touch  to  the  knot  he  had  begun  to  tie  some  minutes 
before.  As  the  custom  was,  all  came  to  congratulate 
and  kiss  the  bride.  When  Ike  Davis  presented  him 
self,  Lucy  refused  to  take  his  hand,  saying : 

"  Ah,  cousin  Ike,  it  was  a  sorry  trick  in  you — a 
mean  way  of  getting  your  revenge,  just  because  I 
refused  to  marry  you." 

Thus  letting  out  a  secret  never  before  divulged. 

And  Mr.  Hawks  taking  out  his  note-book,  and  say 
ing,  "Here,  gentlemen,  is  the  man  who  was  the 
subject  of  the  following  resolution,  passed  by  the 
order :" 

" ' Resolved,  That  our  half- brother,  Ike  Davis,  smelt, 
a  rat,  and  decamped  before  he  saw  the  elephant.' " 

The  company,  which  was  sorely  dispirited  by  the 
unexpected  difficulty,  now  that  the  difficulty  was  re 
moved,  and  a  happy  reconciliation  effected,  entered 
with  all  the  zest  and  gaiety  common  to  such  oc 
casions;  and  the  old  lady  had  the  satisfaction  of 


LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF    SAM   IX    VIRGINIA.        177 

knowing  that  all  the  niceties  which  adorned  her 
supper-table  were  duly  appreciated  "by  her  happy 
and  hilarious  guests,  who  by  this  time,  gave  no  evi 
dences  that  any  thing  had  marred  the  pleasures  of  the 
evening. 

One  apartment  was  set  apart  for  the  especial  re 
creation  of  the  gentlemen,  in  which  apartment  was 
the  old  gentleman's  decanters,  well  filled  with  wines 
and  all  the  most  choice  beverages ;  and  to  this  room 
had  Ike  Davis  retreated,  as  he  found  no  favor  with 
the  fair  ones  present,  after  the  part  he  had  acted  to 
wards  their  dear  Lucy.  But  even  here,  he  found 
himself  in  hardly  more  agreeable  quarters,  as  most 
of  the  young  "sparks"  present  were  good,  sterling 
Democrats;  and  it  having  been  shown  that  Ike  had 
applied  for  admission  into  the  secret  order,  they 
determined  to  shame,  him  well  for  it,  and  having 
done  so  to  their  heart's  content,  it  was  understood 
that  they  were  to  feign  forgiveness,  and  ask  him  to 
drink.  This  was  done,  and  they  all  stood  around, 
glasses  in  hand,  when  also,  as  by  previous  under 
standing,  the  following  toast  was  offered  : — 

"  Here  is  to  the  man  who  smelt  the  rat,  may  he 
never  see  the  Know  Nothing  elephant." 

"Well,  poor  Ike  bore  the  rigging  of  his  young 
Democratic  friends  quite  well,  because  he  felt  that  they 
had  a  right  to  take  those  liberties  with  him.  Among 
those  present  were  several  not  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  one  of  these  ventured  to  ask  Ike  what 
the  rat  smelt  like.  Now,  this  was  more  than  hu 
man  nature  could  bear;  his  political  friends  might 
rig  him,  but  his  enemies  shouldn't;  so  Ike,  who 


178       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OP  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

had  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  thus  delivered  him 
self:— 

"Fr-fr-from  you,  sir,  th-that  is  an  im-m-pertinent 
qu — estion;  but,  sir,  I  will  answer  it,  because  it  will 
give  me  an  op-opportunity  of  v-vindicating  myself 
be-b-before  my  Democratic  friends.  It  s-s-smelt  d-d- 
d — d  Whigish  in  the  first  place,  n-next  it  smelt  of 
the  ab-ab-abolitionists,  and  n-not  at  all  of  Democracy 
and  of  Yir — ginia  principles;  therefore,  I  left  outright, 
leaving  c-chaps  of  your  stripe  t-to  carry  it  on;  chaps 
of  y — our  stripe  to  lie  and  deceive  honest  men;  D- 
D-mocratic  comrades,  do  you  b-b-lame  me?" 

This  speech  brought  all  of  those  friends  who  had 
been  rigging  him  at  once  to  his  rescue,  and  the  gen 
tleman  who  had  put  the  question,  seeing  the  direction 
the  current  was  taking,  thought  it  best  not  to  reply, 
but  took  himself  quietly  off  to  the  company  of  the 
ladies. 

All  of  Ike's  friends  promised  to  intercede  with  the 
ladies  in  his  behalf,  in  which  they  were  quite  success 
ful,  as  before  the  close  of  the  evening  he  was  getting 
along  quite  "swimmingly"  with  those  who,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  evening,  had  given  him  downright 
rebuffs.  Even  Cousin  Lucy  agreed  to  forgive  him,  if 
he  would  promise,  in  future  not  to  interfere  in  other 
people's  business,  particularly  on  occasions  like  the 
present.  But  Ike  could  not  understand  that  he  had 
been  guilty  of  any  impropriety  of  conduct.  As  it 
turned  out,  he  had  only  been  mistaken  as  to  a  fact, 
the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Hawks,  he  was  perfectly  con 
scientious  in  all  he  had  done ;  it  was  only  her  good  he 
had  sought,  and  the  honor  of  the  family  he  desired  to 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OP  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       179 

protect ;  which  would  be  compromised,  in  his  opinion, 
by  an  alliance  with  one  of  Virginia's  secret  foes. 

Now  that  Mr.  Hawks  could  present  a  clean  record, 
he  did  not  know  that  he  had  any  thing  particular 
against  him,  and  could  only  wish  them  all  the  hap 
piness  they  could  possibly  anticipate  in  their  new 
relations.  This  gallant  congratulation  brought  back 
the  old  lady  to  his  friendship,  who  all  this  time  had 
been  standing  aloof  from  him,  and  she  very  warmly 
declared,  that  if  any  person  present,  gentleman  or 
lady,  should  be  guilty  of  any  slight  towards  that 
young  gentleman,  she  would  regard  it  as  a  personal 
affront  to  herself.  After  this  declaration  Ike  felt  per 
fectly  at  home,  and  that  he  could  play  the  beau  with 
impunity ;  consequently  he  joined  in  the  dance,  and 
being  a  good  dancer,  none  present  enjoyed  more 
smiles  and  favors  from  the  fair  than  he,  so  that  Ike, 
the  poor  fellow,  who  was  in  the  early  part  of  the 
evening,  reviled,  shunned,  and  slighted,  is  now  rising 
more  and  more  in  the  estimation  of  all  present — 
while  the  young  man,  the  lion  of  the  evening,  on  his 
arrival,  who  put  the  question  to  Ike  in  the  gentle 
man's  room,  and  received  for  his  pains,  Ike's  broad 
side  rebuke,  was  losing  caste  every  moment;  as  from 
the  manner  in  which  he  received  Ike's  insinuation 
against  him,  all  concluded  that  he  was  a  veritable 

O. 

Know  Nothing.  Thus,  in  this  little  society,  we  have 
an  example  in  miniature,  of  what  is  taking  place  in 
the  great  world,  namely:  that  a  man  may  err  through 
mistake,  and  have  a  clear  conscience  on  the  side  of 
error,  and  for  the  apparent  sin,  he  will  fall  and  be 
condemned,  but  truth,  which  is  sometimes  slow,  will 


180       LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

finally  come  to  his  relief.  The  condemned  deed  will 
bear  its  scrutiny,  and  the  individual  will  again  be 
reinstated  in  the  opinions  of  his  fellow-men,  while  he 
who  knowingly  persists  in  wrong,  will  fall,  fall,  fall, 
till  at  last  sunk  too  low,  for  the  redeeming  grace  of 
willing  public  opinion.  When  the  guests  were  pre 
paring  to  depart,  the  old  man  invited  all  the  gentle 
men  into  his  room,  and  there,  in  many  a  bumper,  did 
the  whole  souled  mountain  boys  drink  health  and 
prosperity  to  Uriah  and  his  pretty  bride.  The  old 
man  took  this  occasion  to  say,  that  he  hoped  that  in 
the  remarks  he  had  made,  he  had  wounded  the  feel 
ings  of  none  present,  (under  misapprehensions  he  was 
harsh  with  his  son-in-law,  so  that  of  course  his  remarks 
did  not  apply  to  him,)  if  he  had,  it  must  be  regarded 
as  an  unavoidable  breach  of  hospitality,  he  would  not 
intentionally  wound  any  man  within  the  threshold 
of  his  own  mansion.  What  he  said,  was  but  the 
out-spoken  feelings  of  a  father's  heart,  regarding  the 
fate  of  his  child.  "  If  there  be  one  injured  on  account 
of  my  expressed  opinions  of  the  secret  organization, 
say  so — for  he  shall  not  cross  my  door,  till  I  have 
retracted  here,  what  I  will  be  ready  to  repeat  in  any 
public  place,  should  occasion  require." 

No  one  spoke.  Ike  Davis's  questioner  was  on  the 
point  of  saying  something,  but  the  last  clause  the  old 
man  uttered  deterred  him,  and  thus  ended  the  cele 
bration  of  Mr.  H.  Uriah  Hawks's  nuptials. 

All  the  company  having  gone,  the  two  old  people 
sat  in  their  apartment;  the  old  man  was  dozing,  and 
was  about  to  make  preparations,  for  the  short  nap  he 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       181 

could  take  before  daybreak.  But  the  old  woman  was 
wide  awake. 

"  Mr.  Laubinger  ?"  said  she. 

"  Madam,"  said  the  old  man,  opening  his  eyes. 

"  I  desire  to  speak  with  you,  Mr.  Laubinger ;  'tis 
late,  but  my  curiosity  must  be  satisfied  on  one  point, 
before  I  give  slumber  to  my  eyelids." 

"  Damn  the  one  point,"  drawled  out  the  old  man ; 
"  wait  till  morning." 

"  Mr.  Laubinger !"  continued  the  old  woman,  "I  am 
astonished  at  you ;  such  profanity,  and  in  the  presence 
of  your  wife!  Sir,  I'll  not  be  baffled.  Are  you 
drunk?  Now,  my  good  old  man,"  changing  her 
manner,  "the  best  way  for  you  to  make  a  long 
matter  short  is  just  to  make  me  an  explanation,  else 
I  will  tease  and  fret  you  until  morning." 

"  The  Democracy  fallen !"  said  the  old  man ;  he  was 
dreaming,  and  thought  the  Know  Nothings  had  con 
quered. 

"  Mr.  Laubinger !"  screamed  the  old  woman. 

"Hillo!  house  a  fire!"  responded  the  man,  tho 
roughly  awakened. 

"  Mr.  Laubinger !"  persevered  the  old  woman, 
"  please  make  me  an  explanation ;  you  can  do  it  in  a 
few  words,  and  then  I  will  let  you  sleep,  O!  so 
sweetly!"  approaching  him,  and  patting  him  under 
the  chin. 

"Well,  what  about?" 

"  I  want  you  to  tell  me  why  you  treated  our  Ury 
so  badly  to-night,  and  why  you  called  him  a  Know 
Nothing,  for  I  am  sure  he  converses  very  fluently  on 
politics ;  besides,  I  don't  think  it  any  disgrace  not  to 

16 


182       LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

know  anything  about  politics ;  for  my  part,  I  believe 
the  less  a  man  meddles  with  them  the  better  off  he  is. 
"Why  then  did  you  so  abuse  him,  and  swear  to  break 
off  the  marriage,  just  because  you  thought  him  a 
Know  Nothing  in  politics  ?" 

"Mrs.  Laubinger,  your  ignorance  on  a  subject 
which  has  now  been  some  time  before  the  country  is 
astonishing;  and  that  you  may  not  expose  yourself 
in  company,  I  will  try  and  arouse  myself,  and  explain 
to  you,  even  at  this  hour." 

"  Do,  good  man,  it  is  so  kind  in  you." 

"  Well,  to  begin,  there  is  a  political  party  now  in 
the  country  called  the  Know  Nothing  party;  this 
party  is  working  in  opposition  to  the  Democratic 
party.  Its  members  are  trying  by  all  kinds  of  tricks, 
to  carry  Virginia ;  the  party  originated  amongst  the 
Abolitionists,  those  fellows  who  several  years  ago 
stole  six  of  the  negroes  belonging  to  your  father's 
estate.  And,  in  order  that  they  might  commit  these 
depredations  upon  our  property  on  a  grander  scale, 
they  organized  themselves  into  a  party ;  and  many 
Whigs  of  Virginia,  are  availing  themselves  of  the 
machinery  employed  by  that  party,  with  the  hope 
of  defeating  the  Democratic  party  of  Virginia.  The 
Whigs  of  Virginia,  of  course,  ain't  going  to  steal 
any  of  our  negroes,  but  then  by  joining  the  organiza 
tion,  though  for  different  purposes,  they  are  encoura 
ging  the  Abolitionists  in  disgraceful  schemes  and 
practices.  Ike  Davis  told  me  that  Mr.  Hawks  be 
longed  to  that  party,  and  hence  my  interference 
during  the  ceremony.  But  I  have  not  told  you  all 
yet;  that  party  is  a  secret  party;  the  members  are 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       183 

sworn  to  obey  the  orders  and  commands  of  the  chief 
men  called  the  Council ;  they  meet  in  the  night,  in 
dark  places,  and  there  do  all  kinds  of  things  that  you 
would  not  have  your  husband  engaged  in." 

"Now,  Mr.  Laubinger,  are  you  joking,  or  are  you 
in  earnest?  If  you  are  in  earnest,  then  I  shall 
expire  at  once.  Are  you  perfectly  satisfied  that  this 
man,  Uriah  Hawks,  now  in  our  house,  our  daughter's 
husband,  is  not  a  member  of  that  awful  party  ?  who 
knows  but  before  a  week  has  passed  over  our  heads, 
he  may  start  for  the  North,  with  all  our  servants  ? 
And  then  he  has  to  obey  orders  and  commands ;  who 
knows  but  what  the  members  of  the  Council  may  be 
wicked  men,  and  command  him  to  murder  our  dear, 
dear  Lucy ;  and  even  if  he  should  not  do  anything 
so  horrid  as  this,  still  you  say  they  meet  in  the  night, 
so  at  best,  I  shudder  to  think  of  poor  Lucy's  fate ;  in 
the  still  and  lonely  hour  of  night,  when  he  ought  to 
be  with  her,  to  cheer  and  comfort  her,  he  will  be  with 
wicked  and  bad  men,  doing  what?  Ohl  nobody 
knows !  O  me,  me,  me,  why  did  you  consent  to  the 
marriage  ?  Oh  I  Mr.  Laubinger,  the  thought  is  hor 
rible  ;  do  tell,  my  dear,  good  old  man,  that  you  are 
perfectly  satisfied  that  Mr.  Hawks  is  not  a  member  of 
that  party." 

"  I  am  perfectly  satisfied — have  indisputable  evi 
dence  ;  else  the  marriage  could  not  have  been  con 
summated." 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you !  the  best,  the  dearest  of 
men  ;  and  now,  good  soul,  you  may  go  to  sleep !" 

She  gave  the  old  man  permission  to  enjoy  a  bless 
ing  which  she  herself  could  not  think  of  indulging 


184:       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

in  that  night.  She  had  every  confidence  in  the  old 
man,  but  still  she  could  but  fear;  so  she  laid  awake 
till  light,  thinking  that  in  all  probability  Uriah  would 
make  an  effort  to  make  off  with  the  negroes  before 
morning.  But  all  the  old  lady's  fears  proved  ground 
less,  as  Uriah  answered  the  bell  the  next  morning, 
and  came  down  to  breakfast  like  a  good,  worthy 
Benedict. 

After  breakfast  the  old  gentleman  went  out  on  his 
farm,  and  the  old  woman  sought  an  interview  with 
Uriah. 

"Now,  Uriah,"  said  she,  "I  want  to  have  a  little 
private  talk  with  you.  You  don't  belong  to  that 
wicked  party  that  Mr.  Laubinger  thought  you  did 
belong  to  last  night,  do  you  ?" 

"  Indeed,  madam,  I  do  not." 

"  You  are  your  own  master,  aint  you,  and  are  not 
sworn  to  obey  anybody  or  any  man,  except  that  it 
would  be  becoming  in  you  to  obey  Mr.  Laubinger 
and  myself?" 

"  I  am  my  own  master,  ma'am,  and  sworn  to  obey 
no  man." 

"  You  don't  think  it  right  for  a  man  to  carry  off 
negroes  that  don't  belong  to  him,  do  you  ?" 

"  Certainly  not,  madam." 

"  You  won't  leave  Lucy  by  herself  at  night,  and  go 
off  with  wicked  men,  and  in  the  dark  do  all  kind  of 
bad  things,  will  you  ?" 

"  Most  assuredly  not,  madam." 

"  Well,  now  I  am  satisfied ;  I  put  these  questions 
to  you  to  see  whether  or  not  you  were  a  Know 
Nothing.  Your  answers  are  perfectly  satisfactory, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN  VIEGINIA.       185 

and  I  shall  now  give  myself  no  more  uneasiness  on 
the  subject.  You  and  Lucy  will  move  over  to  the 
other  plantation  in  a  few  days  ;  and  whenever  either 
of  you  want  any  advice  or  assistance,  we  two  old 
people  will  always  be  glad  to  render  it,  if  it  is  in  our 
power." 

Uriah  returned  his  profound  thanks,  and  happy  he 
was  to  escape  from  the  prying  old  lady  and  her  cate 
gorical  inquisition. 


16* 


186       LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF    SAM   IN    VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

A  LITTLE  more  than  one  month  of  the  new  year 
1855,  has  gone.  The  farmers  now  are  busy  at 
home,  preparing  Virginia's  soil  for  the  yellow  grain 
of  autumn.  The  merchants  are  going  North  for  their 
spring  stocks.  Merchants  going  North  I  is  not  this 
a  reflection  on  Virginia,  that  they  are  compelled  to 
do  this  ?  It  is  a  melancholy  fact,  that  nearly  all  the 
clothes  we  wear  are  woven  by  Yankee  machinery, 
or  have  passed  through  Yankee  ports  before  they 
reach  us.  No  vessels  in  direct  trade  now  ply  for  us, 
and  pause  in  Virginia  harbors.  Who  loves  Virginia 
that  does  not  beckon  with  delight  the  independent 
day,  when  Virginia  merchants  will  not  be  forced  to 
deal  with  Yankee  tradesmen  for  their  goods,  wares, 
and  merchandise?  The  men  who  assemble  in  the 
Capitol  at  Richmond,  sometimes  say  that  day  is  com 
ing.  Ye  legislators,  be  not  false  prophets,  but  act, 
that  your  sayings  may  be  true,  that  Virginia's  pos 
terity  may  honor  and  not  curse  you!  "We  did  not 
intend  to  make  this  chapter  an  essay  on  direct  trade, 
but  set  out  with  the  intention  of  telling  the  world 
what  the  Virginia  people  were  doing  in  February, 
1855 ;  and  having  defined  the  position  of  the  farmer, 
comparatively  independent  at  home,  and  of  the  mer 
chant,  deplorably  dependent  abroad.  Next  and  last 
in  order  will  be  the  politicians.  And  where  were 
they,  and  what  doing  ?  One  thing  is  clear,  as  a 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       187 

general  rule,  their  positions  are  harder  to  define"  than 
the  positions  of  farmers,  or  of  merchants.  To  this 
general  rule,  however,  there  is  one  bright  and  honor 
able  exception ;  it  is  found  in  the  leader  of  the  Vir 
ginia  Democracy.  He  stood  upon  a  platform  whose 
corner-stone  was  laid  in  truth,  and  all  the  choicest 
gems  selected  from  the  rich  mine  of  Republican 
institutions.  A  platform,  in  which  the  ponderous 
intellect  of  Jefferson  had  inserted  its  lever,  and 
declared,  that  it  would  stand  the  test  of  time.  A 
platform,  graced,  and  studded  by  the  immortal  Reso 
lutions  of  '98  and  '99.  The  platform  of  the  Virginia 
Democracy,  never  circumscribed,  never  added  to; 
fixed  immutable ;  the  same  to-day  as  when  the  sage 
of  Monticello  stood  upon  it,  and  said,  'twas  finished. 
The  leader  of  the  Virginia  Democracy,  now  standing 
on  this  platform,  a  world  was  free  to  view  his  con 
duct  and  his  actions ;  and  its  truth  and  honesty  might 
scrutinize  his  utterings.  From  this  position  he  may 
be  supposed  to  have  indulged  in  reflections  like 
these :  I  have  cast  my  eye  over  Virginia,  and  wished 
that  an  opponent  would  arise  and  meet  me  in  manly 
combat ;  the  scene  is  dark,  there  is  no  one  to  appear. 
But  from  below  the  sound  as  of  many  voices  in  mut- 
terings  of  mingled  confusion  and  discontent  rend  the 
air;  the  voices  issue  from  the  culvert  holes,  and  there, 
in  darkness,  lurks  the  foe  I  have  to  contend  with ; 
would  that  a  dispensation  were  granted  some  valiant 
knight  of  the  mystic  order,  that  he  might  rend  the 
oath-bound  tie,  come  forth  adorned  in  all  the  emblems 
of  the  secret  worth ;  meet  me  by  daylight ;  advance 
arguments  of  his  own,  and  oppose  mine ;  Democracy 


188       LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

well  could  stand  the  test,  and  be  gainer  by  the  public 
contest.  But  none  came  forth;  he  addressed  the 
people,  and  to  his  arguments  none  ventured  to  reply. 
He  was,  however,  not  to  be  outdone  in  this  way, 
so  on  these  occasions,  in  the  studied  and  designed 
absence  of  his  opponent,  he  held  up  to  public  gaze 
the  picture  which  he,  the  artist  orator,  had  taken  of 
his  enemy.  That  picture  was  black,  and  wore  the 
sullen  frown  of  treason  on  its  brow;  cunning,  deceit, 
and  treachery  played  in  its  eye,  unaccustomed  to 
look  on  daylight ;  the  fiend-like  malignity  of  the 
abolition  desperado  compressed  its  lips ;  the  flush  of 
unhallowed  victory  marked  its  cheeks ;  its  form  was 
an  unsightly  mass  of  monstrous  deformity;  and  to 
finish  the  picture,  it  looked  like  a  stranger  to  Vir 
ginia  soil,  a  stranger  to  Virginia  chivalry  and  hon 
esty,  morals  and  manners. 

So  like  to  life,  was  this  picture  to  the  original,  the 
veritable  Sam,  that  none  could  fail  to  recognize  it; 
and  in  such  a  light,  did  the  orator  depict  the  morals 
of  the  monster,  that  many  Democrats,  who  had  been 
by  trickery  and  deception  brought  to  worship  at  that 
altar ;  now,  like  true  and  honest  men,  sought  to  be 
relieved  from  oath-bound  obligations,  and  were  once 
more  happy  to  find  themselves  Virginia  Democrats — 
having  returned  to  their  first  love,  which  exacts  no 
sworn  obligations,  but  leaves  it  to  their  sense  of 
right,  to  appear  with  their  licenses,  at  the  appointed 
time,  the  election  day,  there  to  consummate  vows 
made  not  to  mortals,  but  to  principles,  and  Eepubli- 
can  right.  True  it  was,  that  wherever  the  Demo 
cratic  leader  addressed  the  people,  many  there  were 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.        189 

who  saw  the  errors  of  their  ways,  and  came  out  from 
among  the  Know  Nothings.  The  members  of  that 
party,  were  sorely  perplexed  by  this  interference  in 
their  rights ;  but  how  to  prevent  it,  where  to  look 
for  remedy,  they  knew  not.  They  still,  however, 
resolved  to  work  and  hope,  work  and  hope,  never 
say  die ;  except  that  a  despairer  was  now  and  then, 
found,  who  was  content  under  the  circumstances,  to 
cultivate  a  spirit  of  good  will  and  charity  towards 
his  persecutors,  which  was  done,  however,  in  quite  a 
novel  manner,  simply,  by  wishing  the  aforesaid 
leader  was  at  the  devil,  and  then  there  might  be 
ground  for  hope.  All  such  were  regarded  by  the  true 
worshippers  as  heretics,  whose  sayings  ought  not  to 
be  listened  to,  and  who  would  have  been  expelled  the 
Order,  except  that  their  assistance  might  be  needed 
on  a  particular  day  in  May.  Their  out-door  work  was 
done,  as  has  been  heretofore  shown,  except,  perhaps, 
with  still  greater  disregard  for  honesty  and  fair  dealing. 
Let  us  now  attend  another  session  of  the  Council, 
and  see  how  the  withdrawals  are  received,  also  ascer 
tain  what  is  the  general  condition  of  the  organization, 
as  this  is  the  only  place  where  a  true  state  of  facts 
can  be  approximated,  and  hear  some  reports,  &c. ; 
and  these  must  be  taken  with  many  grains  of  allow 
ance,  as  the  members,  from  force  of  habit,  not  un- 
frequently  deceive  each  other.  The  Council  being 
opened,  according  to  the  prescribed  forms — always 
duly  observed — the  subject  of  withdrawals,  which  was 
now  becoming  a  matter  of  almost  daily  occurrence, 
occupied  the  attention  of  the  members  present. 
Several  remedial  plans  were  proposed  and  discussed ; 


190       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

no  one  of  which  could  command  a  sufficient  number 
of  votes  to  make  it  the  law  of  the  Order.  Finding 
themselves  in  this  dilemma,  several  gentlemen  en 
deavored  to  throw  oil  on  the  troubled  waters,  by 
arguing  that  gentlemen  were^  giving  themselves  un 
necessary  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  matter,  that  this 
thing  was  to  have  been  expected ;  no  true  man,  no  man 
thoroughly  imbued  in  the  true  American  principles, 
had  yet  deserted  their  flag;  the  deserters  belonged  to 
the  floating,  the  unsettled,  the  mercenary  class,  whose 
votes  could  always  be  bought,  and  the  fact  only 
revealed  what  might  have  been  expected,  namely, 
that  the  Democratic  party  had  made  a  secret  bid  for 
their  votes.  There  being  no  remedy  within  their 
reach,  the  members  very  philosophically  acquiesced 
in  those  opinions ;  feeling  no  little  ill  will  against  the 
Democracy,  who  were  so  dishonestly  buying  off  their 
voters ;  it  being  contrary  to  Know  Nothing  morals 
and  practices,  to  counteract  the  effect,  by  offering 
higher  bids,  and  here  the  matter  was  passed  over. 
The  committees  were  then  called  upon  to  report, 
when  the  chairman  of  the  special  committee,  which 
was  appointed  with  the  view  of  forming  some  prudent 
and  efficient  plan,  by  which  the  influential  members 
of  the  Democratic  party,  who  were  disposed  to  bolt 
their  party  nominations,  might  be  approached  wisely 
and  judiciously,  and  thus  be  induced  to  throw  their 
weight  and  influence  into  the  American  scale,  stated 
that  the  committee  had  had  the  matter  under  serious 
deliberation.  And  with  all  the  lights  before  it. 

Such  was  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  subject,  that 
the  end  designed  could  not  be  embodied  in  any  set 


LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIEGIXIA.       191 

form  or  written  plan.  The  gentleman  then  went  on  to 
state,  that  the  result  could  better  be  accomplished  by 
addressing  a  circular  to  the  chief  men  and  councils  in 
the  various  sections  of  the  State,  calling  attention  to 
the  subject,  and  requesting  them  to  act  as  the  circum 
stances  of  each  case  might  demand.  This  proposition 
gave  unusual  satisfaction,  and  the  committee  was  dis 
charged  from  further  action  in  the  premises.  The 
committee  on  the  state  of  the  organization  then  sub 
mitted  a  report,  exhibiting  the  Order  as  being  in  a 
highly  prosperous  condition,  gaining  public  favor 
more  and  more  every  day ;  that  reports  of  harmony 
among  the  members  of  the  fraternity  came  from  all 
quarters;  that  such  enthusiasm,  and  such  a  spirited  de 
termination  for  victory,  was  unprecedented  in  the  his 
tory  of  any  party.  The  report  then  went  on  deducing 
certain  triumph  from  these  facts,  and  concluded  with 
a  patriotic  nourish  about  the  duties  of  Americans,  &c. 
Now  it  happened  that  one  respectable  gentleman 
was  not  present  during  the  early  part  of  the  evening, 
when  the  subject  of  withdrawals  was  discussed ;  and 
after  the  report  was  read,  he  rose  and  said :  "  Most 
worthy  president  and  brothers,  the  details  of  that 
interesting  report,  which  has  just  been  submitted  to 
us,  would,  under  other  circumstances,  afford  me 
unfeigned  pleasure  and  gratification,  and  fain  would  I 
believe  the  condition  of  the  Order  to  be  as  therein  set 
forth.  I  impute  no  blame  to  the  gentlemen  who  have 
submitted  that  report,  but  there  is  '  a  screw  loose 
somewhere ;'  let  us  be  careful  that  in  deceiving  others 
we  do  not  deceive  ourselves.  The  report  represents 
the  Order  as  never  in  so  prosperous  a  condition.  How 


192       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

can  this  be,  I  ask,  when  it  is  a  melancholy  fact  that 
withdrawals  are  taking  place  every  day  ?" 

Here  the  president  stated  to  the  gentleman  that  he 
was  "  out  of  order,"  that  the  subject  of  withdrawals 
had  been  discussed  and  acted  upon  before  his  arrival, 
as  the  minutes  would  show. 

On  motion,  that  portion  of  the  record  was  then 
read,  for  his  especial  benefit.  But  he  did  not  infer, 
from  the  minutes  as  read,  that  the  Council  had  taken 
final  action  on  the  subject.  "  The  subject  was  a  most 
important  one, — one  that  deeply  involved  the  interests 
of  the  order.  Therefore,  with  the  view  of  giving 
finality  to  the  question,  and,  at  the  same  time,  a 
remedy  for  the  evil,"  he  desired  to  offer  a  resolution. 
But  he  was  again  out  of  order.  A  motion  was  made 
that  leave  be  granted  him  to  offer  the  resolution,  and 
it  was  sustained.  He  then  offered  the  following  pre 
amble  and  resolution : 

"  Whereas,  evils  are  now  being  felt  by  the  Ameri 
can  organization  by  reason  of  too  mild  initiatory  obli 
gations  ;  therefore,  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  all  who  may  hereafter  be  initiated 
into  this  order,  that  they  do  so  with  the  positive  and 
express  pledge,  that  it  shall  be  discretionary  with  the 
Council  whether  or  not  it  shall  grant  them  with 
drawal  cards,  until  after  the  day  of  the  general 
election." 

As  there  are  different  grades  of  offenders  against  all 
moral  laws,  so  this  resolution  exhibited  the  fact  that 
there  were  different  grades  or  parties  of  Know  Noth 
ings — the  extreme  and  the  conservative,  compara 
tively  speaking.  The  extremists  affirming  the  expe- 


LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.       193 

dieucy  and  propriety  of  this  proposition,  the  conserva 
tives  denying  it.  The  moral  influence  of  the 
conservative  party  may,  however,  be  somewhat 
impaired,  when  it  is  stated  that  their  conservatism 
looked  only  to  the  good  of  the  Order.  The  resolution 
led  to  a  lengthy  argument,  but  it  appearing  to  the 
understandings  of  a  majority  present,  that  it  would 
be  productive  of  more  harm  than  good  to  the  Order, 
it  was  of  course  lost ;  and  here  ended  the  disputation 
on  the  important  subject  of  withdrawals. 

The  committee  on  rules  and  regulations  next 
reported,  and  submitted  sundry  binding  amendments 
to  existing  laws,  enforcing  in  each  greater  stringency, 
&c.,  but  advised  the  repeal  of  the  law  which  forbid 
their  candidates  from  speaking  in  public,  the  law  to 
take  effect  from  a  particular  day,  and  to  embrace  can 
didates  for  all  the  offices  except  for  Governor.  This 
proposal  was  acted  Upon,  and,  after  some  little  debate, 
passed  by  a  large  majority.  It  was  argued  by  several 
gentlemen,  that  it  would  have  a  good  effect  to  let  the 
fact,  that  the  party  regarded  it  as  beneath  the  dignity 
of  the  aspirant  for  the  first  office  in  the  gift  of  the 
people,  to  go  forth  among  them,  appeal  to  their 
passions  or  sympathies  by  stump-speeches,  or  other 
public  bids  for  favor  and  popularity.  But  the  true 
secret  of  this  restraint  upon  their  candidate  for  Gov 
ernor  was  found  in  the  fact  that  they  had  no  man,  in 
all  their  boasted  numbers,  whom  they  would  dare 
allow  the  indulgence  of  so  rash  an  act  as  the  meeting 
of  the  Democratic  leader  before  the  people  would  have 
been.  Thus  did  they  endeavor  to  cover  over  all  their 
designs,  and  ask  for  a  public  verdict  of  virtue,  when 

17 


194       LIFE  AND   DEATU   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

but  ordinary  sagacity  would  rend  the  veil,  and  truth 
and  fair-dealing  be  compelled  to  decide  against  them. 
The  next  business  in  order  was  the  reading  of 
communications  from  the  canvassers.  That  from  the 
canvasser  at  large,  Captain  Swyburg,  ran  thus : 

Abingdon,  Va.,  Jan.,  1855. 
"  GENTLEMEN:— 

"  It  becomes  my  duty  again,  after  the  lapse  of 
some  time,  to  render  to  you  an  account  of  my  stew 
ardship.  For  two  reasons,  this  affords  me  great 
pleasure,  first,  because  I  have  nothing  but  good 
tidings  to  impart ;  secondly,  because  of  the  conscious 
ness  of  having  discharged  the  important  duties  com 
mitted  into  my  hands,  with  an  eye  single  to  the  best 
interests  of  our  cause.  My  last  communication  was 
dated  at  Parkersburg,  in  which  I  announced  my 
intention  of  visiting  Point  Pleasant  and  Kan  awl  ui, 
thence  to  the  South-west,  via,  Greenbrier.  I  had 
the  gratification  of  finding  the  good  cause  progressing 
well  in  the  county  of  Mason.  This  county  \vill 
most  undoubtingly  give  a  large  American  majority. 
If  you  remember,  I  stated  in  my  last  communication, 
that  there  was  a  gentleman  of  Mason,  who,  from 

reports  I  had  heard  of  him,  Col. ,  deserved  well 

of  our  party.  On  acquaintance,  my  expectations  in 
regard  to  him  have  been  more  than  realized,  and  I 
would  say  that  his  claims  before  our  Nominating 

Convention  for  the  office  of  should  not  be 

lightly  passed  over.  He  has  heretofore  been  of  the 
Democratic  party ;  has  more  than  once  been  elected 
by  that  party  to  Congress ;  has  the  entire  confidence 


LIFE   AND    DEATH    OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.        195 

of  that  party,  and  his  name  will  be  a  tower  of 
strength,  both  in  Transalleghenj  and  in  the  Valley, 
where  he  is  well  known.  I  paused  but  a  brief  period 
in  the  good  county  of  Putnam.  I  found  the  Ameri 
cans  there  as  brave,  as  gallant,  and  as  patriotic  as 
he  whose  name  the  county  bears.  I  would  have 
remained  longer  in  this  county,  but  was  told  by  the 
Americans  that  all  was  as  it  should  be,  and  that  they 
would  give  a  large  majority.  In  Kanawha,  one  of 
those  truly  American  paradises,  I  remained  for  some 
days,  and  was  exceeding  loath  to  leave.  No  where, 
in  my  travels,  have  I  seen  the  people  so  thoroughly 
aroused.  The  opposition  in  this  county  cannot  pos 
sibly  poll  over  two  hundred  ;  they  have  given,  afore 
time,  some  six  or  nine  hundred.  From  there,  I  came 
hurriedly  on  to  this  place,  and  therefore,  am  indebted 
only  to  reports,  for  information  regarding  the  cam 
paign  in  the  counties  through  which  I  passed  ;  these, 
however,  were  all  nattering.  I  have  now  been  in 
this  section  some  days,  and  am  happy  to  reiterate  to 
you  the  same  tale  of  glory  unspeakable,  the  American 
boys  are  working  out  for  themselves.  I  approached 
this  section  not  without  many  fears  that  the  influence 
of  ex-governor  F.  would  operate  greatly  against  us. 
But  I  find  his  influence  and  eloquence  impotent  to 
check  the  onward  progress  of  this  great  revolution  in 
public  opinion.  This  gentleman  will  make  a  des 
perate  struggle  to  get  to  the  Legislature.  Sam,  how 
ever,  is  no  respecter  of  persons,  and  will  chop  an 
ex-governor's  head  off  with  just  as  much  grace  as  if 
were  a  novus  homo,  just  entered  upon  the  political 
arena ;  and  I  am  told  that  he  has  determined  to  serve 


196       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

the  gentleman  in  question  just  in  this  manner.  I  do 
not  deem  it  necessary  that  my  stay  here,  should  be  a 
protracted  one.  I  shall  visit  all  the  Councils,  address 
them  on  important  matters,  and  call  upon  them  to 
continue  in  the  good  work.  Your  letter,  requesting 
me  to  take  the  Tenth  Legion  in  my  route,  has  come 
to  hand  ;  that  request  shall  surely  be  complied  with, 
for  apart  from  the  general  guidance  of  the  Council, 
whose  obedient  and  willing  servant  I  now  am,  and 
to  whose  commands  I  always  yield  obedience,  there 
is  another  reason  that  bids  me  enter  the  deserted 
field  with  the  greatest  cheerfulness;  namely,  that 
infamous  deserter,  Hawks,  was  through  my  instru 
mentality,  sent  there,  to  the  Tenth  Legion,  therefore, 
will  I  hasten,  nor  shall  the  heathenish  Democracy  of 
that  politically  benighted  land,  be  long  without  an 
instructor  to  break  to  them  the  true  principles  of 
Americanism.  Unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken,  that 
Democratic  fortress  is  not  proof  against  the  entrance 
of  our  principles.  I  am  known  there,  quite  exten 
sively,  as  a  Democrat ;  I  will  bring  them  in  under  the 
cover  of  their  own  garments;  once  in,  an  obligation, 
clinched  with  the  strong  triple  bars  of  an  oath,  is 
not  easily  broken.  I  think  it  highly  probable  that 
that  fellow,  Hawks,  so  far  from  accomplishing  any 
good,  has  only  prejudiced  our  cause  there;  if  so,  I 
shall  endeavor  to  ferret  him  out ;  once  found,  depend 
upon  it,  he  shall  be  shown  up  in  his  true  colors. 
You  shall  be  duly  apprised  of  my  movements,  and 
success  in  that  quarter.  I  frequently  think  of  the 
happy  unions  you  are  having  around  your  old  Coun 
cil  board.  I  would  like  to  be  with  you  sometimes,  and 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   8AM   IN   VIRGINIA.       197 

participate  in  those  deliberations  so  dear  to  my  soul ; 
but  then ,  the  thought  of  being  usefully  engaged  else 
where,  almost  disarms  regret  of  its  sting. 

"  Good  Council  boys,  accept  the  love  of  your  obedi 
ent  servant, 

"PETER  SWYBURG." 

Several  other  communications  from  the  canvassers 
were  then  read,  but  as  they  all  told  the  same  tale  of 
prosperity,  &c.,  of  which  the  Captain's  may  be  taken 
as  a  specimen,  it  is  useless  to  give  them  a  place  in 
this  history. 

This  over,  the  president  rose,  and  stated  "that  this 
was  the  evening  fixed  upon  for  the  presentation 
of  the  medal  for  the  most  effective  electioneering 
article,  or  item,  and  requested  that  the  gentlemen 
would  at  once  proceed  according  to  the  programme 
as  laid  down." 

The  judges,  or  committee  appointed  to  decide 
upon  the  merits  of  the  several  articles,  or  items, 
now  seated  themselves  on  a  temporary  platform 
constructed  in  the  hall  for  the  occasion. 

Invitations  had  gone  to  the  Councils  of  the  State  to 
be  present,  and  a  large  number  of  gentlemen  had 
availed  themselves  of  the  invitation,  and  were  pre 
sent  to  witness  the  interesting  ceremony,  so  that  the 
hall  was  full. 

The  he,ad  judge,  or  chairman  of  the  committee, 
now  rose  and  said,  "The  contestants  for  the  medal 
will  now  be  presented  before  the  tribunal." 

There  were  ten  competitors  for  the  prize,  who  were 
now  conducted  in,  one  at  a  time,  each  one  was  led 

17* 


198       LIFE  AND   DEATU   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

several  times  around  the  hall,  through  the  audience, 
and  then  took  his  stand  before  the  judges.  Each 
bore  aloft,  attached  to  a  staff,  and  printed  in  large 
letters,  on  pasteboard  of  different  colors,  in  ink, 
blue,  black  and  red,  his  electioneering  item.  Some 
of  these  items  were  very  short,  others  very  long,  so 
that  when  they  all  stood  in  a  line  before  the  judges, 
there  was  quite  a  variety  and  display  of  pasteboards 
and  printers'  ink. 

The  judge  then  rose,  and  delivered  himself,  as 
follows : — 

"  Valiant  Knights  of  the  Mystic  tie,  ten  in  num 
ber,  you  now  stand  before  us,  in  friendly  contest  for 
the  prize  offered  by  our  Council.  The  duty  which 
devolved  upon  us,  my  associates,  and  myself,  that 
of  deciding  to  whom  we  should  award  the  prize,  is 
truly  a  delicate  one.  In  the  discharge  of  this  duty, 
no  feelings  of  partiality,  in  fact,  no  influence  what 
ever  has  operated  upon  us  save  the  good  of  the 
cause.  Our  award  in  favor  of  one,  must  not  be 
regarded  as  detracting  aught  from  the  excellencies  of 
all,  for  I  must  say  that  each  of  you,  in  your  effort  to 
serve  our  orgnization,  deserves  well  of  all  Americans, 
and  under  the  proverb  which  says  that  he  who  does 
the  best  he  can  is  as  worthy  as  he  who  does  the  best, 
each  of  you  must  share  the  glory  with  your  successful 
rival.  Stimulated  by  the  desire  to  serve  your  party, 
and  each  emulous  to  excel,  you  all  stand  most 
worthily  before  us,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Council  I 
now  thank  you  for  your  efforts  in  furtherance  of  the 
glorious,  the  patriotic  principles  of  the  American 
party.  The  several  items  you  have  placed  in  com- 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    UF   SAM    IN    VIRGINIA.      199 

petition  for  the  prize  will  be  recorded  on  the  minutes 
of  this  Council,  and  thus  your  names  will  be  trans 
mitted  to  posterity,  as  worthy  workers  in  the  move 
of  American  principles  in  opposition  to  foreign  in 
fluence.  I  will  now  read  the  article  to  which  we 
have  awarded  the  prize.  When  I  have  read  it,  he 
who  displays  its  duplicate  on  his  staff,  will  please 
come  forward  and  accept  the  Council's  token  of 
regard,  this  golden  medal" — holding  up  a  small 
angular  shaped  piece  of  gold  to  the  admiring  gaze 
of  all  present. 

Mr.  Editor  Turner,  the  successful  competitor,  now 
stepped  forward  and  accepted  the  much  coveted 
treasure  of  honor.  He  acknowledged  the  compli 
ment  in  handsome  terms,  feared  that  injustice  had 
been  done  some  one  more  worthy  than  himself  by 
the  decision,  that  he  had  been  actuated  in  his  deter 
mination  to  compete  for  the  prize  more  by  the  desire 
to  serve  his  State  and  his  party,  than  by  the  desire 
to  possess  the  offered  prize,  and  concluded  in  a  cut 
and  dried  curl,  in  which  his  eloquence  spouted  afar- 
off  and  lofty,  the  substance  of  which  was  that  the 
little  medal  should  never  pass  from  his  possession, 
should  never  be  moulded  into  dollars,  but  be  ever 
prized  in  remembrance  of  its  distinguished  donors. 

Several  enthusiastic  gentlemen  then  made  patriotic 
speeches,  sustaining  the  committee  in  their  decision ; 
expatiating  on  the  mighty  genius  of  the  man  whose 
mind  could  concoct  such  an  article,  by  far  the  hap 
piest  hit  of  the  campaign,  and  prophesying  for  it 
that  it  would  produce  a  mighty  revolution  in  public 
opinion.  Some  going  so  far  as  to  say  that  a  copy 


200      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM    IX    VIRGINIA. 

of  the  prize  essay  should  find  its  way  to  every 
Virginia  home;  that  around  the  quiet  fireside  the 
sovereigns  should  ruminate  over  the  facts  therein  set 
forth,  and  that  no  true  lover  of  his  State  after  reading 
it  could,  with  a  due  regard  to  the  best  interest  of  his 
commonwealth,  vote  the  Democratic  ticket. 

It  may  be  remarked  here,  that  each  of  the  other 
essays  entered  for  the  prize  were  fabricated  with 
reference  to  some  political  misdeed  of  the  Democratic 
leader,  while  the  one  which  received  the  reward  was 
a  base  slander  upon  personal  character,  together 
with  an  attempt  to  excite  the  prejudices  of  particular 
classes  of  population  against  others.  Thus  showing 
that  in  their  decision  the  committea  were  true  to 
their  Know  Nothing  feelings  and  practices.  And 
now,  after  a  resolution  directing  a  large  number  of 
copies  of  the  prize  essay  to  be  printed  for  distribu 
tion  had  been  offered  and  adopted,  and  the  morning 
star  having  arisen,  the  Council  adjourned. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.       201 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SOME  time  since,  the  reader  was  advised  of  a  little 
affair  or  suit  in  Cupid's  Court,  which,  according  to  the 
surmises  of  one  of  the  parties,  the  plaintiff,  was  pro 
gressing  well  and  would  end  well.  Some  months 
have  now  elapsed  since  Maurice  Meredith  obtained 
that  first  interview  with  pretty  Fannie  Bell,  and  the 
impression  made  upon  his  mind  that  it  (his  suit)  was 
progressing  well  and  would  end  well — that  is,  in  mar 
riage.  Since  then,  a  lover's  restless  life  has  been  his ; 
he  has  felt  all  the  hopes  and  fears,  the  changes  and 
the  doubts  of  such  a  life.  He  who  lives  upon  the 
smiles  and  glances  of  any  fair  one,  must  needs  be 
subject  often  and  anon  to  mental  changes.  Now 
happy,  full  of  hope  and  glee ;  now,  oh  mercy !  miser 
able,  full  of  fear  and  sadness ;  a  glance  may  elevate 
him  to  the  seventh  heaven — another  glance  may  hurl 
him  thence,  and  back  to  the  cold  realities  of  life  and 
its  troubles. 

In  all  the  other  circumstances  of  life,  left  to  future 
development,  where  a  man's  interest  is  enlisted,  there 
is  nothing  so  distressing  and  perplexing,  as  uncer 
tainty  ;  while  in  the  little  matter  of  love  there  is  an 
indefinable  something,  so  peculiarly  intoxicating,  that 
a  man  sometimes  draws  pleasure  even  from  uncer 
tainty.  This  balance-wheel,  this  little  voice  whisper 
ing  hope  when  clouds  are  dark,  is  so  attached  to  the 
heart's  feelings  for  wise  purposes,  and  has  stayed 


202      LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN-  VIRGINIA. 

many  a  despairer's  hand,  raised  to  shed  his  own 
blood.  But  nothing  has  yet  happened  to  drive  Mau 
rice  to  this  extremity;  on  the  contrary,  he  has  passed 
along  as  pleasantly  as  gentlemen  in  his  situation 
generally  do.  He  has  had  rivals  to  contend  with,  but 
they  have  only  stimulated  him  to  more  vigorous  en 
deavors  to  bear  off  the  prize.  He  has  been  with 
Fannie  on  divers  occasions,  had  pleasant  and  happy 
little  tete-a-tetes,  talked  of  poetry,  of  flowers,  of 
moon-beams,  and  of  love,  but  never  yet  has  told  his 
own.  He  has  told  her  that  he  had  a  mind-picture 
which  flashed  forth  before  his  fancy  in  his  happy 
days  of  youth's  gay  dreams,  so  beautiful  that  he  could 
not  describe  it;  he  told  her  many  other  things  about 
that  picture,  and  might  have  made  the  impression 
that  it  was  exactly  like  unto  her  own  beautiful  self, 
but  then  he  did  not  exactly  say  so. 

Thus  has  Maurice  been  occupied  in  his  world  of 
sentiment  and  of  love,  since  we  last  saw  him.  How 
has  he  been  getting  along  in  the  political  world  ?  He 
has  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Council  regularly, 
and  is  still  zealous  in  the  cause.  Those  who  induced 
him  to  join  the  organization,  it  will  be  remembered, 
told  him  that  they  would  place  within  hie  hand  the 
key  with  which  to  unlock  the  hard-bound  gates  that 
led  to  fame  and  immortality.  True  at  least  to  one  of 
their  obligations,  the  promised  key  is  now  in  his 
hands.  He  is  their  candidate  for  Congress  in  his  dis 
trict;  they  have  promised  to  elect  him.  "Will  the 
key,  when  applied,  turn  the  good  old  Democratic 
lock?  This  remains  to  be  seen;  so  there  is  some 
thing  still  between  him  and  fame.  Will  that  some- 


LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       203 

thing  give  way?  Yes,  if  Know  Nothing  trickery 
and  deceit  can  prevail  against  truth  and  fairness; 
otherwise,  that  hard-bound  gate  will  not  swing  upon 
its  hinges  for  the  admission  of  such  applicants  as 
himself. 

During  this  time,  Mr.  Dew  has,  from  his  country 
home,  paid  several  visits  to  Fannie,  who  was  always 
happy  to  see  him,  as  he  told  her  all  the  news  of  her 
dear  old  country  neighborhood,  in  which  she  was 
born,  and  had  resided  until  her  father  moved  to  the 
city.  During  one  of  these  visits,  he  chanced  to 
inquire  after  her  Irish  invalid. 

"  Ah!"  said  Fannie,  "she  is  well  and  happy.  Yes, 
married  to  a  sturdy  son  of  old  Erin ;  he  pursued  her 
across  the  occean,  and  claimed  her  hand  in  marriage. 
I  suppose  she  was  not  proof  against  such  devotion." 

"But  for  your  kindness,  Miss  Fannie,  the  poor 
fellow  might  have  found  his  ruddy  bride  a  corpse- 
Indeed  you  are  a  benefactress.  But  what  would  some 
of  your  Know  Nothing  beaux  say  to  this  exhibition 
of  charity  towards  an  alien?" 

"  I  have  none  such,  Mr.  Dew." 

"  Beg  your  pardon,  but  may  I  ask  what  proof  you 
can  offer  me  that  such  is  the  case  ?" 

"  Certainly,  the  best  proof  in  the  world,  I  have 
asked  all  and  every  one  has  positively  denied  it." 

"  But  do  you  not  know  that  the  members  are 
sworn  to  do  that  ?" 

"Yes,  but  I  know  they  would  tell  me ;  besides,  I 
have  another  knock-down  argument,  as  you  wicked 
politician-  say,  it  is  the  old  adage  about  'birds  of  a 
feather,'  &c.  Now  you  know  I  don't  belong  to  the 


204       LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIKGINIA. 

Order,  neither  does  father  or  either  of  the  boys,  so 
no  Know  Nothing  would  desire  to  visit  our  home." 

"  But  you  know  they  are  making  converts  to  their 
faith,  how  do  you  know  but  that  some  one  has  designs 
of  this  character  upon  you  ?" 

"  Certainly ;  but  do  you  imagine  they  will  make 
many  converts  of  persons  of  my  religious  faith  to 
their  political  faith  ?  Surely  they  would  not  ask 
those  they  are  seeking  to  proscribe  to  become  traitors 
to  their  church  and  join  in  the  work  of  persecution." 

"  The  demand  is  unreasonable,  to  be  sure,  but  that 
does  not  justify  the  conclusion  that  it  is  never 
made." 

"  Though  the  faith  that  is  in  us,"  replied  Fannie, 
•warmly,  "justifies  us  in  the  conclusion  that  the 
demand  is  never  complied  with." 

Mr.  Dew,  perceiving  that  the  conversation  was 
about  to  take  a  religious  or  doctrinal  turn,  and  not 
being  disposed  to  combat  any  of  the  tenets  of  her 
church,  changed  the  conversation;  moreover, he  sup 
posed  that  he  had  good  grounds  for  the  opinion  that 
the  rival  he  most  feared  (Mr.  Meredith)  was  a  member 
of  the  Order,  and  he  had  only  introduced  the  subject 
to  doubly  assure  himself  of  what  he  had  already  per 
fectly  satisfied  himself,  viz.,  that  Fannie  had  no 
affection  for  Know  Nothing  principles,  and  she  had 
said  enough  to  satisfy  him  that  in  the  event  of  Mr. 
Meredith's  proving  to  be  of  that  party,  whatever 
might  be  the  relations  he  bore  to  Fannie,  the  fact 
would  greatly  prejudice  him,  in  her  opinion,  and 
thus  his  rival's  anticipations  would  never  be  consum 
mated  in  marriage  with  Fannie  Bell. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      205 

The  reader  has  doubtless  inferred,  from  the  con 
versation  above,  that  Fannie  was  a  member  of  the 
Koman  Catholic  Church.  This  is  really  true,  her 
father  had  placed  her,  while  she  was  quite  young,  at 
an  institution  belonging  to  that  denomination,  there 
she  began  and  finished  her  education.  She  was 
allowed  to  attend  public  worship  at  that  church,  and 
very  naturally  imbibed  the  doctrines,  &c.,  apper 
taining  to  the  Catholic  creed'  and  when,  in  maturer 
years,  she  asked  the  permission  of  her  father  to  con 
nect  herself  with  that  church,  the  old  man  offered  no 
objection,  and  though  he  might  have  regretted  his 
first  step,  that  of  placing  her  in  an  institution  of  that 
character,  yet  he  did  not  feel  authorised  in  opposing 
his  parental  authority  against  the  conscientious  con 
victions  of  his  child,  in  the  matter  of  religion.  - 

This  was  the  one  act  of  Mr.  Bell  which  had  alien 
ated  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Fox,  from  him.  Mr.  Fox 
had  endeavored  to  dissuade  him  from  sending  his 
daughter  to  the  Koman  Catholic  Institute;  and  later 
than  this,  tried  to  persuade  the  old  man  from  yielding 
his  const  nt  to  her  wishes  to  unite  with  the  Church. 
Mr.  Fox's  counsels,  however,  not  prevailing  in  either 
instance,  particularly  in  the  latter,  he  has  shown  a 
coolness  towards  the  family  ever  since.  And  here, 
too,  was  the  secret  of  his  advice  to  Maurice :  "  Let  her 
alone  ;  ask  me  not  why  I  advise  you  thus,  for  I  will 
never  tell  you."  When  he  gave  this  advice  to  Mau 
rice,  which  so  perplexed  the  young  man,  he  (Maurice) 
had  been  a  member  of  the  Order  but  a  short  time,  and 
Mr.  Fox,  fearing  that  an  attachment  might  grow  up 
between  the  two  young  people,  and  fearing  the 

18 


206       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

unhappy  consequences  that  might  be  occasioned  by 
such  an  attachment,  he  employed  that  significant 
expression,  "  let  her  alone,"  with  the  hope  of  deterring 
him  from  cultivating  the  young  lady's  acquaintance. 
It  was  an  easy  matter  for  him  to  have  apprised 
Maurice  of  her  connexion  with  the  Eoman  Catholic 
Church,  which  certainly  would  have  resulted  in  either 
one  of  two  things:  Maurice  would  either  at  once 
have  abandoned  all  idea  of  the  young  lady,  or,  if  his 
attachment  to  her  was  already  growing  ardent,  he 
would  have  withdrawn  from  the  organization,  and 
been  a  mere  sympathiser  with  the  party.  Mr.  Fox 
thought  the  latter  most  probable,  and  being  a  very 
good  friend  to  Maurice,  and  holding  his  political 
advancement  near  to  his  heart,  he  forebore  to  make 
any  communication  to  him,  which  would  cause  him  to 
take  a  step  that  would  have  been  fatal  to  that  advance 
ment;  and  concluded  within  himself,  that  it  would  be 
time  enough  to  make  the  revelation  before  matters 
progressed  too  far,  or  after  his  Council  had  promised 
promotion,  which  would  bind  him  to  the  Order  by  ties 
not  easily  broken ;  at  least,  in  his  opinion,  the  desire 
for  fame  was  greater  than  the  desire  for  requited  love, 
so  he  was  content  for  the  present  with  his  admonition 
to  "  let  her  alone." 

It  has  already  been  seen  what  effect  this  warning 
had  upon  Maurice.  He  determined  to  keep  his  own 
counsel,  and  Mr.  Fox  was  the  last  person,  under  the 
circumstances,  to  whom  he  would  have  revealed  his 
secret ;  so  Mr.  Fox,  not  hearing  the  matter  talked  of 
at  all,  concluded  that  Maurice  had  taken  his  advice, 
while,  in  truth,  his  attentions  to  Fannie  had  all  this 


LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       207 

time  been  of  the  most  assiduous  character.  Thus  did 
he  postpone  his  revelation  to  Maurice,  till  the  making 
of  it  would  have  been  impotent  to  rectify  his  first 
error,  that  of  not  making  it  when  he  gave  the 
warning. 

It  happened  that,  during  one  of  Mr.  Dew's  visits  to 
Fannie,  himself  and  Maurice  met  at  Mr.  Bell's  house. 
Maurice  was  there  before  Mr.  Dew,  and  was  the  first 
to  leave ;  probably,  what  he  had  to  say  was  intended 
for  Fannie's  ears  alone.  He  probably  did  not  care  to 
engage  in  general  conversation,  and  left  forthwith. 
The  two  gentlemen  treated  each  other  with  more  than 
usual  courtesy ;  the  extreme  politeness  of  each  was 
almost  embarrassing  to  the  third  party.  Mr.  Dew  was 
much  relieved  when  his  rival  rose  to  take  his  leave. 
He  had  come  this  time  to  breathe  his  tale  of  love  into 
Fannie's  ear,  and  now  that  other  ears  had  vanished 
from  their  hearing,  with  his  big  heart  throbbing  strong 
and  high,  he  ventured  to  declare  his  hopes.  He 
recurred  most  touchingly  to  their  old  neighborhood 
scenes  ;  the  happy  hours  they  had  passed  together  in 
their  school  days,  when  the  fly-leaf  of  every  book  of 
his  had  her  name  written  upon  it,  in  a  boy's  big,  round 
hand.  Then  he  spoke  of  the  rides,  the  slides,  the 
skating  on  the  littfe  ice  pond ;  then  when  he  grew 
older,  and  went  to  a  boarding-school,  how  he  thought 
of  her  —  how  he  wished  to  see  her,  and  when 
that  happiness  was  his,  how  diffident  he  was.  And 
then  he  went  on  to  speak  of  manhood's  hopes — "  the 
greatest  of  them  all  was  to  be  thought  worthy  of  her 
love."  Here  he  paused. 

"  Worthy  enough — yea,  too   worthy !      But,  Mr. 


208       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN    VIRGINIA. 

Dew,  remember  me  as  a  friend — forget  me  as  a  lover. 
You  would  not  have  a  heart  unaccompanied  with  its 
best  affections;  my  feelings  do  not  prompt  me  to 
bestow  these  upon  you.  You  understand  and  appre 
ciate  my  answer,  and  it  will  be  more  agreeable  to  both 
of  us  to  change  the  subject." 

The  subject  was  changed,  and  after  a  few  moments, 
Mr.  Dew  went  away  in  a  most  desponding  mood.  He 
next  day  returned  to  his  country  home,  laboring  under 
the  belief  that  Fannie  had  trifled  with  his  feelings, 
inasmuch  as,  in  his  opinion,  she  had  encouraged  his 
suit.  And  being  not  a  little  vexed,  the  first  thing  he 
did  on  entering  his  law  office,  was  to  take  down  one 
of  his  books,  and  wrote  upon  a  blank  leaf  the  follow 
ing  satire  against  the  fair:  "He  who  in  youth,  or 
mature  years,  attaches  himself  to  the  apron-string  of 
his  sweetheart,  unless  he  is  positively  certain  that  he 
will,  in  time,  possess  the  fee  simple  right  in  the  owner 
of  said  apron-strings,  may  find,  perhaps,  the  raving 
little  Cupids,  which  have  been  for  so  many  nights 
hovering  around  his  pillow,  and  whispering  sweet 
dreams  of  bliss  into  his  eager  ear,  have  quite  unex 
pectedly  to  him  received  their  quietus  by  the  decision 
of  the  owner  of  the  aforesaid  apron-string — a  decision 
not  favorable  to  their  pranks.  But  then,  when  the 
Cupids  have  vanished,  and  carried  away  with  them 
their  gaudy  bows  of  hope,  their  visions  of  priests,  of 
ceremonies,  and  of  wedding-cake,  if  he  whom  they 
have  so  often  paid  their  respects  to,  be  but  a  philoso 
pher,  he  will  have  a  fair  vision  of  his  past  folly,  view 
with  dignified  disgust  all  his  little  fooleries,  while 
ministering  to  the  vanity  or  caprice  of  the  angel  now 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       209 

lost  to  him,  turn  himself  over  and  go  to  sleep ;  and 
in  the  morning  go  to  work." 

As  politics  was  now  the  order  of  the  day,  he  de 
termined  to  drown  his  grief  in  excitement,  he  forth 
with  took  the  stump,  in  favor  of  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  most  nobly  did  he  work.  Wherever  he 
went,  he  gained  the  approbation  of  his  hearers,  and 
soon  ranked  among  the  most  efficient  men  of  the 
party.  He  was  thus  indebted  to  his  disappointment 
for  his  fame,  for  this  it  was  that  called  forth  the 
latent  fires  of  his  intellect.  Heretofore  he  knew  not 
his  own  powers,  his  love  for  Fannie  had  grown  with 
his  growth,  and  strengthened  with  his  strength,  his 
ambition  ended  in  winning  her  ;  but  now  that  dream 
had  passed  away,  her  answer  had  dissipated  all  his 
heart-fondling  sentimentalities,  and  he  found  him 
self  in  the  wide  world  dependant  upon  the  sober 
realities  of  business ;  these  realities  he  soon  learned 
to  rely  upon  for  support.  These  made  a  man  of 
what  so  short  time  ago  had  been  but  a  mass  inert,  all 
its  powers  spent  in  dreamy  idealities,  or  puffed  away 
in  vapory  sighs.  It  has  been  said  that  the  Council 

of had  nominated  Maurice  as  their  candidate  for 

Congress.  Publicity,  however,  is  not  given  to  the 
fact;  he  is  directed  to  go  forth,  electioneer  for  the 
cause  and  for  himself  secretly.  This  he  consents  to 
do,  but  before  taking  a  long  tour  through  the  country, 
he  imagines  that  he  can  go  with  a  lighter  heart,  with 
a  better  determination,  and  a  stronger  nerve  for  the 
arduous  work  of  a  canvass,  if  he  goes  off  the  acknow 
ledged  possessor  of  Fannie's  love.  It  was  to  seek 
such  an  acknowledgment,  that  he  went  there  on  the 


210        LIFE   AND    DEATH    OF   SAM   IN    VIRGINIA. 

evening  he  met  with  Mr.  Dew,  but  being  interrupted 
he  went  the  next  evening,  made  his  declaration,  and 
was  accepted.  He  next  day  started  on  his  tour,  in 
high  spirits,  and,  probably,  felt  in  a  better  humor 
with  himself,  and  with  the  world,  than  he  had  ever 
before.  No  one  was  better  calculated  to  make  a 
good  impression  upon  strangers  than  he  was,  and  the 
party  fondly  imagined  that  they  had  a  champion  in 
the  field,  not  easily  to  be  conquered,  and  in  truth,  his 
prospects  of  success  did  seem  tolerably  fair.  The 
Democratic  majority  in  the  district  was  at  no  time 
very  large,  in  fact,  as  between  the  Democratic  party 
and  the  old  Whig  party,  it  was  hard  to  say  which 
out-numbered,  so  that  an  exceedingly  popular  man, 
of  either  party,  could  sometimes  carry  the  district. 
"What  alteration  Know  Nothingism  had  produced  in 
the  district  was  not  ascertained. 

Maurice,  now  would  gladly  have  remained  at  home, 
and  enjoyed  the  first  days  of  his  engagement  in 
blessed  communion  with  his  betrothed ;  but  an  im 
perative  duty,  a  duty  that  he  owed  both  .to  himself 
and  his  party,  called  him  out  among  the  people,  and 
he  went.  But  in  all  his  travels,  in  his  weary  rides, 
along  the  lonely  country  roads,  he  did  not  forget 
Fannie ;  she,  and  a  seat  in  Congress  occupied  all  his 
thoughts;  but  the  better  part  of  them  were  given  to 
her.  He  thought  of  the  eclat,  they  would  gain  in 
Washington,  he  in  Congress,  his  accomplished  bride 
in  the  fashionable  circle,  she  was  in  his  thoughts  by 
day,  and  visited  him  in  dreams,  in  his  sleeping  mo 
ments  ;  one  dream  he  had  that  troubled  him  much, 
and  gladly  would  he  have  found  a  Joseph  to  inter- 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       211 

pret  it.  He  stopped  one  evening,  just  as  the  sun  was 
sinking  behind  the  western  hills,  at  a  neat  little  cot 
tage  by  the  roadside,  and  finding  the  owner  a  hospi 
table  old  man,  with  a  merry  mind,  and  withal,  the 
right  stripe  in  politics,  according  to  Maurice's  under 
standing,  he  availed  himself  of  the  gentleman's  polite 
invitation  to  spend  the  night.  After  a  neat  and 
savory  supper  of  buckwheat-cakes,  beef-steak,  and 
coffee,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country,  they 
all  soon  retired,  and  Maurice  was  shown  to  a  com 
fortable  little  room,  the  window  of  which  was  crossed 
and  recrossed  with  rose-vines. 

Maurice's  thoughts  to-day  had  more  than  usually 
been  turned  upon  Fannie,  and  now  to-night,  he  was 
thinking,  probably  that  she  might  not  approve  of 
his  political  principles ;  "But  pshaw,"  said  he  at  last, 
"what  am  I  troubling  myself  about;  what  does  a 
a  woman  know  or  care  about  a  man's  political 
opinions ;"  he  was  satisfied,  and  soon  fell  asleep,  and 
with  his  sleep  came  the  dream,  for  which  he  wanted 
an  interpreter.  His  dream  was  as  follows:  —  He 
thought  a  little  bird  was  singing  most  sweetly  at  his 
window,  perched  amid  the  rose-vines;  he  approached 
the  window,  so  as  to  catch  every  note,  as  the  little 
warbler  issued  them  from  its  throat,  to  tremble, 
quiver,  and  then  die  away  upon  the  still  air  of 
night;  but  his  approach  frightened  the  little  song 
stress,  and  it  flew  away,  and  alighted  upon  a  laurel- 
tree,  growing  upon  the  banks  of  a  little  rivulet,  not 
far  off,  and  there  began  its  song;  but  suddenly  the 
song  was  hushed,  the  bird  had  flown,  and  in  its  place 
a  brilliant  light  gleamed  forth  from  the  thick  foliage 


212       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

— now  the  light  would  disappear,  and  then  suddenly 
burst  forth  into  view  again.  He  had  heard  those 
many  superstitious  tales  about  the  horrid  jaunts  lost 
travelers  had  taken  in  pursuit  of  the  Will-o'-the-wisp, 
and  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  an  irresistible  de 
sire  to  follow  the  light,  which  was  now  receding  from 
him.  So  he  thought  he  started  in  pursuit  of  it ;  it 
led  him  down  the  little  rivulet,  which,  after  some 
miles  was  lost  in  an  immense  marsh,  full  of  bogs, 
briers,  and  quagmires.  Away  down  in  the  lonely 
marsh,  he  entered,  as  he  supposed,  the  Council-room 
of  his  organization.  The  hall  was  brightly  lighted, 
and  there  was  Mr.  Fox,  Mr.  "Winks,  Mr.  Pate,  Mr. 
Dobby,  old  Capt.  Swyburg,  and  all  his  associates  he 
was  accustomed  to  meet  in  the  lodge.  He  heard  his 
name  often  mentioned,  and  many  prophecies  regard 
ing  his  fame,  &c.  He  then  passed  on  through  the 
lodge,  and  following  the  light,  he  soon  emerged  out 
of  the  marsh,  and  suddenly  found  himself  in  the 
most  beautiful  and  picturesque  country  that  eye  ever 
rested  upon ;  the  view  before  him  was  a  magnificent 
mountain  and  valley  view;  he  paused  at  the  base  of 
an  immense  mountain,  and  then  the  light  vanished, 
not  to  appear  again.  Being  much  fatigued,  he  looked 
around  for  a  place  to  rest;  just  at  his  feet  a  clear 
spring  of  water  gushed  from  the  rocks,  and  on  its 
moss-clad  banks  he  reclined  for  rest.  After  awhile, 
when  gazing  on  the  mountain's  lofty  summit,  a 
female  form  appeared  upon  its  jutting  crags,  and 
leaping  from  point  to  point,  it  descended  rapidly, 
and  soon  was  by  his  side.  He  thought  he  had  seen 
that  face  and  form  before;  ah!  yes,  it  was  the  ideal 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IX   VIRGINIA.      213 

picture  he  had  so  long  cherished,  it  was  the  vision  of 
Fannie  that  had  come  to  visit  him  in  his  romantic 
retreat;  but  the  figure  uttered  not  a  word — pointed 
with  its  finger  to  the  topmost  point  of  the  mountain 
projecting  over  a  stream  running  below,  and  upon 
that  projecting  point  stood  Fannie,  personifying  jus 
tice — she  had  balances  in  her  hand  which  were 
suspended  over  the  precipice;  just  a  little  to  Fannie's 
left  he  saw  a  beautiful  bridge,  adorned  with  many 
Democratic  mottoes,  spanning  the  river.  Fannie,  or 
justice,  as  she  then  appeared  to  him,  seemed  to  be 
acting  as  gate-keeper  of  the  bridge ;  and  then  he  saw 
his  political  enemies  (and  conspicuous  among  them 
Mr.  Dew)  passing  over  that  bridge,  singing  songs^of 
triumph.  Then  he  recognised  some  of  his  Council 
boys  coming  along,  they  approached  the  gate,  but 
Fannie  pointed  to  her  scales,  and  then  to  the  preci 
pice;  they  obeyed  the  inclination  of  her  finger,  and 
one  by  one  went  tumbling  headlong  down  into  the 
stream  below.  He  then  looked  at  the  river,  saw  that 
it  was  spanned  by  an  arch  of  black  vapor,  and  in  the 
vapor  the  letters  SALT  BIVEE,  were  dis 
tinctly  visible.  He  then  arose  to  hasten  to  the  spot, 
where  Fannie  stood,  but  before  he  reached  her  he 
awoke,  and  found  that  he  had  been  only  dreaming. 

Maurice  was  not  superstitious,  was  not  accustomed 
to  ponder  over  his  dreams,  but  this  one  had  im 
pressed  him  deeply.  He  could  not  banish  it  from 
his  thoughts,  and  the  more  he  pondered  the  more  he 
was  perplexed;  and  in  his  perplexity  became  an  in 
terpreter  of  his  own  dream.  The  interpretation  of 
which  "may  be  gathered  from  the  following  soliloquy : 


214      LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF    SAM    IN    VIRGINIA. 

What  if,  after  all,  I  have  erred  in  uniting  myself 
with  this  party?  May  not  the  alluring  song  of  the 
night-bird  be  a  representation  to  me  of  the  songs 
sung  to  me  by  the  members  before  I  united  with  the 
party?  May  not  that  will-o'-the-wisp  be  embla- 
matical  of  the  principles  of  the  party,  all  mere  ignis- 
fatuus?  Was  there  not  something  significant  in  the 
location  of  the  Council  Hall,  away  down  in  the 
gloomy  marsh,  and  did  the  hall  blaze  with  unwonted 
light,  that  I  might  detect  errors?  or  was  that  beau 
tiful  country  beyond  intended  as  a  view  of  the  bright 
haven  of  prosperity  which  the  bark  that  bears  our 
principles  would  led  us  into  ?  I  halted  at  a  spring — 
did  that  mean  that  purity  is  still  to  be  found  in  the 
world  ?  Fannie  representing  justice — well  that  was 
natural  enough  and  needs  no  interpretion.  My  poli 
tical  enemies  passed  over  a  bridge — that  means 
victory — my  party  went  helter-skelter  into  Salt 
River!  So  the  whole  thing  simply  resolves  itself 
into  this — I  had  a  vision  of  the  defeat  in  store  for 
our  party,  ha!  ha!  Well,  sink  or  swim,  survive  or 
perish,  I  am  with  the  party  heart  and  soul.  And 
spurring  his  horse,  he  hastened  his  speed  towards 
home,  which  he  expected  to  reach  before  night. 
Maurice  had  put  the  above  construction  upon  his 
dream  more  in  sport,  or  burlesque  of  his  superstition 
in  regard  to  it,  than  in  reality,  for  he  was  too  fully 
persuaded  within  himself  that  his  party  would  be 
successful  to  have  his  faith  weakened  by  the  mere 
vagaries  of  a  dream,  and  why  he  had  allowed  it  to 
cause  him  any  anxiety  he  could  not  tell. 

He  reached  home  that  evening,  and  had  not  been 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       215 

long  in  his  office,  before  one  of  his  most  intimate 
friends,  politically  and  socially,  hearing  of  his  ar 
rival,  came  to  see  him ;  he  was  also  his  confident  in 
some  matters,  BO,  after  the  young  gentleman  had 
inquired,  and  Maurice  had  given  him  a  detailed 
account  of  his  travels,  &c.,  Maurice  concluded  bj 
relating  his  dream,  and  told  him  that  the  thing  had 
vexed  him  not  a  little.  His  friend  laughed  heartily 
at  him,  but  told  him  that,  unfortunately,  it  was 
totally  out  of  his  power  to  render  him  any  consola 
tion,  as  he  did  not  profess  to  be  an  interpreter. 
"  But,"  said  he,  "  there  is  an  old  man  in  our  town  of 
great  repute  among  his  fellows  for  his  wonderful 
accuracy  in  'the  art.'  I  would  advise  that  he  be 
called  in.  I  mean  old  Sip,  the  marvellous  darkey." 

Old  Sip  has  already  been  introduced  to  the  reader 
on  the  occasion  of  bringing  an  invitation  to  Maurice 
to  spend  the  evening  at  his  master's  house.  Maurice 
accordingly  dispatched  his  servant  for  the  old  inter 
preter.  Maurice  nor  his  friend,  of  course,  did  not 
believe  that  the  old  man  was  possessed  of  the  gift, 
and  merely  indulged  in  the  ridiculous  farce  for 
amusement  and  curiosity.  The  old  fellow  in  due 
time  presented  himself,  ready  to  obey  the  commands 
of  Mars  Maurice. 

"  Well,  Sip,"  said  Maurice,  "  I  have  heard  of  your 
wonderful  gift  at  declaring  dreams.  I  have  had  one 
that  troubles  me,  and  have  sent  for  you  to  tell  me 
its  meaning." 

"  I  has,"  said  the  old  fellow,  "  an  increase  of  repu 
tation  in  this  respect.  I  don't  take  much  upon 


216       LIFE   AXD   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

myself,  but  if  I  kin  be  of  any  use  to  you,  I  am  at 
your  service." 

Maurice  then  related  his  dream,  taking  care  not 
to  describe  the  hall  in  the  marsh  as  a  Know  Nothing 
Hall.  He  also  omitted  to  mention  the  name  of  the 
young  lady  upon  the  mountain. 

Old  Sip  began  his  interpretation  with  a  few 
general  rules  of  construction  to  be  observed. 

"  For  instance,"  said  he,  "  dreams  goes  by  de  con 
traries;  if  de  fuss  thing  seen  in  de  dream  be  of  a 
contrary  nature,  as  an  obstinate  man,  or  'oman,  a 
jackass,  or  a  mule ;  but  if  the  fuss  thing  seen  aint 
obstinate,  but  goes  right  straight  along,  then  de 
dreatn  aint  to  go  by  de  contrary.  "Well,  less  'ply 
dis  rule  to  your  dream ;  now,  de  fuss  thing  you  seed 
was  a  little  bird;  birds  aint  obstinate,  darefore  your 
dream,  aint  to  go  by  de  contrary,  but  right  straight 
along,  with  all  de  lights  we  can  gather  from  de 
sembols.  Now,  it  are  plain  to  my  imagination,  that 
de  place  you  started  to  in  your  night  vision  was  de 
hall  down  in  de  big  swamp,  you  started  there  to 
meet  your  friends,  and  de  situation  of  de  hall  being 
in  de  swamp,  shows  that  de  people  what  meets  in  it 
is  bad  people.  The  sweet  song  of  the  bird  was 
unnatteral  in  de  time  o'night,  and  means  de  pretty 
tale  wat  de  bad  people  told  you  to  get  you  to  jine 
'em.  Dat  Jack-'o-lantern  means  they  was  deceptions 
people,  and  that  big  light  in  de  hall  was  kindled  up 
to  your  vision,  that  you  might  see  their  wickedness. 
The  pretty  country  you  went  into  was  a  view  of 
what  you  would  possess  if  their  promises  to  you 
were  true.  You  saw  that  spring,  that  you  might 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        217 

wash  your  hands  of  such  people ;  that  lady  on  do 
mountain  means  that  dar  are  one  who  has  de  tender 
place  in  her  heart  for  you,  and  would  save  you. 
Your  enemies  passing  over  de  strong  bridge,  and 
your  friends  tumbling  into  de  ribber,  means  that 
your  enemies  are  agoing  to  rule  over  you;  dat  lady 
was  a- warning  you  to  prepare  yourself  to  go  safely 
over  de  bridge;  and  these  are  all  de  revelations  I 
can  draw  from  your  dream." 

It  should  be  stated,  that  Maurice  had  laid  before 
his  friend  his  own  interpretation,  before  he  de 
spatched  his  boy  for  old  Sip,  and  his  friend  being  a 
frolicsome  fellow,  and  fond  of  a  joke,  as  soon  as  the 
boy  started  on  his  errand,  he  pretended  to  have  an 
engagement  out,  which  would  occupy  him  but  a  few 
moments ;  but  in  truth,  he  only  went  out  to  meet  and 
post  old  Sip.  He  told  the  old  fellow  the  interpreta 
tion  he  wanted  him  to  place  upon  the  dream,  which 
he  made,  as  is  seen,  to  correspond  as  nearly  as  possi 
ble  with  Maurice's  own  construction. 

Maurice  did  not  like  the  interpretation  of  his  sable 
worship  at  all,  so  he  just  tossed  him  a  piece  of  silver, 
which  the  old  man  received  with  many  thanks,  and 
left.  After  he  was  gone,  Maurice  asked  his  friend  if 
he  was  not  "struck  with  the  astonishing  agreement 
between  his  own  and  old  Sip's  interpretation  ?"  The 
young  man  replied  that  he  had  observed  it,  "and 
regarded  it  as  most  extraordinary." 

Maurice  sat  for  several  moments  in  a  very  thought- 
fill,  solemn  mood,  and  then,  assuming  a  gayer  humor, 
proceeded  to  say  that  there  was  mystery  about  the 
thing  which  he  could  not  comprehend ;  that  it  was 

19 


218        LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

well  calculated  to  impress  seriously  men  of  weak 
nerves,  and  women  and  children,  but  he  thanked  his 
stars  that  he  was  made  of  sterner  stuff,  of  material 
not  to  be  operated  upon  by  the  foolish  twaddle  of  an 
old  black  mountebank ;  and  he  should  only  regard 
the  agreement  in  this  construction  upon  the  drearp, 
as  one  of  those  unaccountable  coincidences  that  some 
times  happen,  and  nothing  more. 

His  companion  declared  that  what  he  (Maurice)  had 
said,  "  was  unmitigated  affectation ;  that  he  was  more 
seriously  affected  than  he  was  willing  to  own.  Now, 
if  you  will  acknowledge  this,  I  will,  in  a  few  words, 
furnish  you  with  a  solution  to  the  remarkable  coinci 
dence,  and  thus  put  your  mind  at  ease ;  provided,  if 
the  solution  is  perfectly  satisfactory  to  you,  that  you 
give  me  permission  to  take  you  and  your  interpreta 
tion  off,  before  the  first  merry  company  we  get 
into." 

"  Agreed !"  said  Maurice. 

"  "Well,  to  be  short — I  met  old  Sip  on  the  street, 
and  told  him  what  to  say  1" 

Maurice  begged  that  he  would  not  mention  it  in 
any  company  until  after  the  election ;  "  for  you  must 
perceive  that  were  this  farce  to  get  about,  no  one 
would  vote  for  such  a  superstitious  booby  to  go  to 
Congress,  as  the  revealing  of  it  would  represent 
me." 

His  friend  promised;  and  Maurice  did  not  think 
of  his  dream  again  for  many  days,  when  circum 
stances  brought  it  back  vividly  to  his  mind. 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF   SAM    IN    VIRGINIA      219 


CHAPTEE  XX. 

THE  contest  in  Virginia  has  now  excited  more 
than  a  local  -interest,  it  is  not  regarded  as  a  mere 
State  contest.  A  Nation's  eye  is  looking,  with 
anxiety,  upon  the  struggle.  A  Nation,  too,  is  di 
vided  in  sympathy — all  the  southern  sisterhood  of 
states,  whose  chivalrous  sons  partake  of  the  generous 
nature  of  the  warm  wind's  breath,  and  of  the  genial 
nature  of  blazing  suns,  sends  forth  one  mighty  stream 
of  southern  sympathy  for  the  Democratic  hosts. 
They  ask  and  beg  Virginia  to  crush  the  night  prowl 
ing  monster,  ere  its  seductive  influence  has  palsied  a 
single  nerve,  that  runs  through  the  southern  heart. 

There  are  among  you,  as  us,  said  these  southern 
sons,  many  (foreigners)  who,  in  pleading  tones,  are 
saying  to  you,  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in ; 
I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  meat;  I  was 
thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  to  drink  of  the  sweet  waters 
of  life — of  liberty.  Will  not  Virginia  protect  the 
stranger  that  is  within  her  gates ;  and  more  than  this, 
will  she  not  protect  religious  liberty — liberty  of  con 
science.  Thus  did  the  southern  mind  address  Vir 
ginia  Democrats.  While  it  cheered  their  leader  in 
his  bold  career,  and  bid  him  deal  forth,  fast  and 
heavy,  his  manliest  blows.  The  answer  was  returned, 
fear  not  brave  and  generous  friends,  Virginia  Demo 
crats  know  Virginia's  duty. 

From  this  quarter  the  Democratic  party  received 


220      LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF    SAM    IN    VIRGINIA. 

sympathy.  From  whence  came  that  of  the  American 
party?  why  from  the  opposite  direction,  from  the 
northern  States.  The  rankest  leaders  of  isms  there, 
looked  upon  this  thing  called  Know  JSTothingism,  as 
the  most  precious  and  promising  child  of  all  its  off 
spring  ;  and  anxiously  did  they  watch  its  progress, 
when  some  of  its  scions,  from  the  original  trunk, 
were  transplanted  to  a  southern  clime.  With  what 
yearnings  and  anxiety  they  looked  after  its  growth  ! 
with  what  feelings  of  delight  did  they  read  and 
devour  the  accounts,  telling  of  the  immense  popu 
larity  their  affectionate  child  was  gaining  in  the 
South !  And  oh !  how  they  spoke  of  the  national 
mind  of  the  child  I  How  it,  even  in  infancy,  became 
disgusted  at  the  bare  mention  of  any  thing  sectional 
in  its  character  !  How  it  loved  southern  institutions ; 
and  evinced  an  early  desire  to  travel  in  that  direc 
tion  !  IIow  at  the  north  it  had  made  such  havoc 
with  the  fortunes  and  popularity  of  the  foreign-loving 
admin  stration  at  Washington  !  So  much  interested 
were  they  in  its  progress  here,  that  self-sacrificing 
emissaries  were  found,  willing  to  leave  the  pleasures 
of  home,  and  travel  south,  to  exercise  a  guardian  care 
over  this  precious  darling.  And  then,  it  was  so 
excessively  American  in  all  its  feelings,  abominated 
the  idea  that  foreigners  should  be  permitted  to  come 
to  America ;  and  withal,  was  very  pious,  moral  and 
religious ;  and  would  pay  especial  attention  to  the 
religious  welfare  of  its  followers,  that  one  set  of  wor 
shippers,  the  Eoman  Catholics,  were  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  the  Devil's  vicegerents  on  earth,  and 
ought,  by  no  means,  to  be  tolerated. 


LIFE   AND    DEATH    OF   SAM    IX    V1RGIXIA.      221 

These  were  some  of  its  virtues  publicly  expressed, 
while  its  chief  virtue,  for  Virginia ,  was  only  whis 
pered  in  select  companies,  and  among  known  indi 
viduals  ;  this  was,  that  Sam  \vas  a  first-rate  Whig, 
the  worst  enemy  Democracy  had  in  all  the  Union. 
It  was  said  that  it  was  christened  "  Sam"  at  the  bap 
tismal  font,  by  some  distinguished  preacher  of  "  Chris 
tian  politics,"  after  its  old  father,  "  Uncle  Sam." 
They  thus  endeavored  to  procure  a  family  influence 
for  young  Sam,  knowing  the  stress  laid  in  Virginia 
upon  "  family ;"  but  it  does  appear,  by  this  very  act, 
they  issued  a  slander  against  Uncle  Sam,  and  placed 
Sam,  Jr.,  at  once  in  a  questionable  attitude  before  all 
those  who  harp  upon  family  pride ;  as  the  records  of 
the  country  will  go  to  show  that  "  Uncle  Sam"  was 
married,  many  years  ago,  to  a  chaste  Virgin  called 
Liberty;  and  "Sam,  Jr.,"  certainly  did  not  bear  any 
of  the  family  marks  of  the  legitimate  issue  of  this 
connexion.  Such  were  some  of  the  many  garbs  the 
cunning  Yankees  threw  around  their  own  precious 
offspring,  before  they  introduced  him  to  the  Virginia 
people ;  and,  strange  to  say,  they  found  their  dupes 
in  numbers.  Thus  it  was,  that  while  the  Virginia 
Democracy  drew  sympathy  from  their  natural  allies, 
allies  in  feeling,  sentiment,  and  community  of  in 
terest,  the  southern  sisterhood  of  States,  the  opposi 
tion  found  sympathy  in  the  northern  States,  where 
dwell  the  vilifiers  of  southern  character,  where  dwell 
the  false-hearted  philanthropists,  whose  excited 
brains  are  continually  trying  to  invent  some  mighty 
plan  for  the  alleviation  of  suffering  humanity,  held 
in  slavery  at  the  South ;  though,  so  far,  all  their 

19* 


222      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

labors  of  love  have  been  productive  of  no  plan  more 
dignified  in  character  than  that  which  the  merest 
rogue  would  devise ;  they  have  only  stolen  our  negroes 
when  they  could. 

But,  becoming  weary  of  this  slow  process  of  ob 
literating  slavery  from  the  South,  they  bethought 
themselves  of  a  systematic  plan  of  secret,  oath-bound 
work ;  and  Sam,  with  his  tricks,  after  he  had  laid 
low  all  the  national,  conservative  men  at  the  North, 
traveled  South,  as  has  been  before  described,  and 
here  established  himself  chiefly  in  the  affections  of 
quondam  Whigs,  who,  while  they  ignored  Sam's  abo 
litionism,  still  thought  it  proper  enough  to  avail 
themselves  of  his  secret  machinery  for  party  purposes. 

It  may  be  admitted  that  the  original  purposes  of 
Know  Nothingism  at  the  North  and  Know  Nothing- 
ism  at  the  South,  were  essentially  different.  Charity 
suggests  that  this  much  must  be  said  of  the  southern 
branch,  (though  this  admission  is  at  the  expense  of 
their  claim  to  nationality ;)  still,  they  have  so  many 
political  sins  resting  upon  them,  that  if  ever,  in  time 
to  come,  they  should  desire  to  return  to  their  first 
love,  (the  old  Whig  party,)  its  chief  priests  could 
never  grant  them  full  absolution. 

The  American  party  has  now  met  in  convention  at 
Winchester,  and  nominated  their  State  ticket.  They 
nominated  a  ticket — this  much  is  known ;  what  else 
they  did,  the  rest  of  the  world  will  probably  remain 
in  blissful  ignorance. 

It  was  said  that  great  harmony  prevailed  during 
the  sittings  of  the  body,  this  much  was  laudable, — 
brothers  should  always  meet  together  in  harmony. 


LIFE    AXD    DEATH    OF   SAM    IX   VIRGINIA.      223 

• 

It  was,  moreover,  said  by  them,  that  they  had  put 
forth  a  very  acceptable  ticket,  to  the  people  of  Vir 
ginia,  and  one  that  would  surely  be  triumphant.  Now 
this  was  not  so  laudable,  inasmuch  as  they  did  not 
know  that  when  they  said  so  that  it  would  prove  to 
be  true.  This,  however,  might  be  overlooked  as  a  kind 
of  political  license,  and  excused,  had  the  assertion 
iiot  indirectly  conveyed  a  slander  upon  the  Demo 
cratic  party  of  Virginia,  that  it  was  to  be  defeated. 
Again,  a  man  has  the  right  to  predict  the  amplest 
success  for  himself,  so  long  as  he  expects  to  reap  that 
success,  from  his  own  proper  domains.  That  party, 
of  course,  could  not  expect  success  without  encroach 
ing  upon  the  Democracy,  so  that  on  the  very  thres 
hold,  the  members  of  that  convention,  stand  con 
victed,  first,  of  slandering  their  neighbors  the  De 
mocracy,  and  next,  of  the  grave  sin  of  covetousness. 
Had  their  sins  ended  here,  they  might  have  been  for 
given.  But  look  to  the  ticket  nominated,  and  a 
graver  charge  yet,  may  be  preferred  against  them, 
for  did  they  not  in  the  time  of  night  actually  steal 
two  members  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  place 
them  on  their  ticket  ? 

To  their  selected  leader,  the  Democracy  did  not  set 
up  any  claim,  right,  or  title ;  he  belonged  to  that  party, 
and  they  had  the  undisputed  right  to  do  just  what 
they  pleased  with  him.  To  the  second  on  the  ticket, 
the  Democracy  did  claim  a  contingent  right,  which 
right  might  have  been  enlarged  into  a  fee,  by  a  very 
simple  operation,  as  most  politicians  on  their  last  legs 
are  apt  to  bite  at  any  little  bait  thrown  to  them.  But 
probably,  his  membership  with  the  party  was  not 


224      LIFE    AXD    DEATH    OF   SAM    IN    VIRGINIA. 

deemed,  absolutely  necessary  to  the  fortunes  of  the 
party,  and  this  may  account  for  his  reported  passage 
through  the  national  corn-crib,  at  Washington,  with 
out  receiving  one  little  nubbin  from  the  President. 
The  President,  moreover,  is  decidedly  southern  in 
his  affinities,  and  had  probably  heard  of  that  vote  in 
Congress,  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District 
of  Columbia. 

To  do  him  full  justice,  he  was  a  gentlemanly, 
honest,  intelligent,  well-meaning  man,  but  exceed 
ingly  unfortunate  of  late  years  in  his  attempts  to 
please  the  Democracy,  and  they  very  willingly  re 
nounced  their  interest  in  him. 

To  the  third  gentleman  upon  the  ticket,  the  De 
mocracy  did  not  so  willingly  renounce  their  interest, 
his  talents  commanded  their  respect,  and  although 
they  could  not  exactly  see  his  consistency,  were  yet 
willing  to  attribute  this  to  their  weak  minds;  and, 
giving  him  credit  for  more  sagacity  than  fell  to  their 
share,  concluded  that  he  saw  clearly  his  own  con 
sistency.  They  regretted  that  he  had  been  stolen,  and 
had  signified  his  own  acceptance  of  the  appropriation 
they  had  made  of  him.  No  process,  legal  or  other 
wise,  was  ever  instituted  for  his  recovery ;  the  matter 
dropped,  and  has  been  little  talked  of  since  by  hu 
former  friends. 

The  framers  of  that  ticket,  were  regarded  as 
righteous  men;  and  the  impression  was  gradually 
getting  abroad,  that  a  political  millenium  had  dawned 
upon  Virginia,  and  the  old  political  Devil,  who  had 
for  so  long  a  time  been  stirring  up  party  strife,  was 
chained  head  and  foot,  else  how  could  enemies  so 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       225 

stand  together,  side  by  side,  upon  the  same  ticket. 
How  far  this  belief  would  have  gained  upon  the 
people  is  not  known,  had  not  the  promulgers  of 
the  doctrine  and  their  party  friends,  by  their  own 
acts,  showed  indisputably,  that  the  reign  of  party 
peace,  good  will,  brotherly  love,  and  honesty  had 
not  yet  began  in  Virginia.  The  framers  of  this 
ticket  regarded  it  as  undignified  to  have  indulged  on 
the  occasion  in  excessive  laudation  of  their  nominees, 
and  did,  as  has  been  seen,  content  themselves  with 
declaring  its  acceptability  to  the  people,  and  bespeak 
ing  for  each  a  triumphant  career. 

But  the  formation  of  the  ticket  was  the  signal  for 
Councils,  and  for  party  men  generally,  to  raise  their 
jubilant  songs,  and  forthwith  there  came  from  their 
culvert  holes,  and  from  Sam's  hosts,  one  long,  loud 
and  mighty  shout,  declaring  the  incomparable  excel 
lence  of  the  ticket. 

Acting  upon  the  principle,  that  the  hair  of  the  dog 
was  good  for  the  bite,  they  had  carefully  prepared 
their  drug,  with  which  they  intended  to  purge  Vir 
ginia  of  every  vestige  of  Democracy;  which  prepara 
tion  was  composed  of  two  parts  of  Democracy,  Beale 
and  Patton. 

Certificates  were  soon  showered  upon  the  country, 
testifying  to  the  wonders  this  invaluable  patent  medi 
cine  was  working.  One  nurse  would  declare  that 
it  acted  finely  in  chronic  cases,  and  then  publish  a 
list  of  reputable  names,  all  of  whom  had  been  suffer 
ing  for  years  with  Democracy  in  its  most  virulent 
form,  who  were  suddenly  cured  by  the  compound 
ticket.  Another  certified,  that  it  was  invaluable  in 


226       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

all  cases  of  despondency,  and  soon  restored  life  and 
high  spirits  to  the  mental  sufferer.  A  third  ventured 
to  say,  that  so  far  as  his  practice  and  experience  went, 
the  effects  produced  were  somewhat  similar  to  the 
effects  produced  by  ether,  (except  that  ether  acted 
differently  upon  different  minds  or  constitutions;)  this 
always  was  uniform  in  its  effects,  producing  feelings 
of  patriotism.  A  fourth  thought  it  very  similar  to 
the  liquid  used  by  the  marvellous  doctor,  who,  when 
ever  he  sprinkled  any  of  it  upon  any  person,  the 
individual  at  once  became  deeply  attached  to  him, 
and  followed  him  wherever  he  went.  In  short,  all 
agreed,  that  it  was  a  sovereign  panacea  against  all 
the  ills  of  Democracy,  with  one  very  striking  pecu 
liarity,  that  while  it  infused  life,  hope,  and  health  to 
all  natives  and  protestants,  it  was  the  deadliest  poison 
to  all  foreigners  and  Catholics. 

While  they  were  publishing  all  these  advertise 
ments  of  the  inestimable  value  of  this  compound 
with  the  hope  of  increasing  its  reputation,  the  old 
Democrats  simply  read  the  advertisements  and  gave 
them  credit,  probably,  of  possessing  as  much  truth  as 
the  notices  of  quack  medicines  generally.  In  fact, 
they  rather  looked  upon  two-thirds-of  the  compound 
as  two  political  corpses  that  had  died  of  the  American 
fever.  The  American  party,  however,  was  nothing 
daunted  by  the  manner  in  which  their  compound 
ticket  was  received.  They  had  hoped  that  the  De 
mocracy,  on  the  promulgation  of  this  ticket  would, 
like  Crockett's  coon,  come  down  without  being  fired 
at,  and  lay  at  their  feet.  But  being  deceived  as  to 
the  result  of  the  trick,  they  at  once  resorted  to  other 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF   SAM    IN    VIRGINIA.      227 

moans,  as  their  brains  were  never  idle  on  that  im 
portant  question  of  defeating  the  Democracy.  They 
n\)w  threw  themselves  upon  the  bosom  of  Sam, 
bemoaned  their  piteous  condition  in  Virginia,  and 
begged  that  he  would  show  the  same  spirit  in  the 
struggle  here  that  he  had  exhibited  in  a  northern 
latitude;  and  prayed  that  his  sceptre  might  not  pass 
from  him,  until  Virginia  was  rescued  from  the  rule 
of  Democracy. 

They  followed  now,  with  still  greater  energy,  all 
their  tricks,  which  have  before  been  described  in 
these  pages;  and  where  these  failed  they  resorted  to 
others,  and  new  ones.  .  They  felt  that  all  their  for 
tunes  hung  upon  the  election;  with  them  'twas  life 
or  death ;  they  knew  they  could  not  recover  from  the 
first  fall;  once  down,  prostrate,  dead 'for  ever. 

The  fear  of  this  fall  lends  vigor  to  their  determina 
tion.  The  hope  of  reward  lends  its  incentive  to  their 
anxious  minds,  as  they  work,  work,  work — for  the 
spoils — by  night  and  by  day,  in  secret,  and  some 
times  now,  in  public;  in  crannies,  and  in  corners; 
in  by-ways,  lanes,  in  short,  wherever  a  sovereign  could 
be  found. 

In  secret,  the  Councils  still  continued  to  issue  pri 
vate  orders,  to  meet  the  exigencies  as  they  arose, 
Avhich  the  workers  were  sworn  to  obey.  While  in 
public,  the  sum  and  substance  of  all  their  arguments 
may  be  told  in  three  words,  namely,  huzzah  for  Sam. 

But  turn  from  the  contemplation  of  the  tricks  of 
this  party,  to  the  course  pursued  by  the  Democracy. 
The  contrast  is  singularly  striking.  The  Democratic 
party  has  long  been  thoroughly  organized.  It  has 


228      LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF    SAM    IN    VIRGINIA 

truth,  e^ual  rights,  southern  rights,  nationality, 
liberty  of  conscience,  religious  liberty,  Virginia, 
union  and  the  constitution,  together  with  many  other 
mottoes  of  freedom  and  of  right,  emblazoned  on  its 
banner.  Its  candidates  are  now  all  in  the  field,  and 
with  calm  dignity  they  are  nobly  breasting  the  dark 
tide  of  fanaticism,  which  has  at  last  overleaped  the 
strong  barrier  of  defence  the  southern  conservative 
sentiment  had  raised  up;  and  unless  this  tide  is 
thrown  back,  these  candidates,  so  nobly  meeting  the 
storm,  must  at  last  give  way ;  their  banner  of  free 
dom's  mottoes  must  trail  in  the  dust;  Democracy 
must  fall,  and  fanaticism,  with  its  foul  spawn  of  hor 
rors,  will  rush  in  to  revel  in  wanton  liberty  with  the 
sacred  principles  of  our  fathers. 

Must  all  these  precious  blessings  waste  and  wither 
away  before  the  hot  breath  of  the  oath-extracting, 
oath-binding  monster? 

Must  all  Virginia's  trophies,  all  her  relics  of  olden 
time,  be  snatched  from  their  hangings  on  her  tri 
umphal  arch — an  arch  invisible,  'tis  true,  to  the  eye, 
but  distinct  to  the  mind,  as  it  is  seen  proudly  span 
ning  the  old  Commonwealth  from  Atlantic  beach  to 
where  Ohio  laves  her  western  borders.  Let  the  mind's 
eye  approach  this  arch  and  read  what  the  finger  of 
time  has  traced  upon  it,  as  year  after  year  has  glided 
away,  and  it  will  be  found  to  be  the  history  of  the 
Democratic  party  of  Virginia.  Democracy's  enemies 
(in  other  words,  Virginia's  enemies)  cannot  look  upon 
that  arch  with  favor  or  affection.  A  phrenzied  mad 
ness  contemplates  its  downfall,  which,  in  the  still  and 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      229 

dark  hour  of  midnight,  busily  plies  the  dastard's  tools 
under  either  abutment. 

Patriot,  will  it  fall?  Ah,  that's  a  question 
reserved  for  the  month  of  May.  If  it  falls,  Vir 
ginia's  honor  and  fame  lies  under  its  ruins.  A  nation 
feels  the  shock  1 


20 


230      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

ME.  TURNER'S  paper  displays  the  American  ticket 
from  its  mast-head,  and  rejoices,  with  exceeding  great 
joy,  that  such  an  unexceptionable  ticket,  in  every 
respect,  had  been  put  forth  for  the  approval  of  Vir 
ginia's  sovereigns;  and  not  a  doubt  was  expressed 
in  this  sheet,  which  so  faithfully  adhered  to  its  party 
tactics,  as  to  the  triumphant  success  of  the  nominees. 
It  occasionally  descanted  on  the  subject  of  with 
drawals,  which  was  now  reaching  an  alarming  extent. 
This  question  was  treated  by  the  editor  in  the  light 
est  manner  possible  :  it  was  but  the  cry  of  "  wolf! 
wolf!"  raised  by  opponents,  when  in  fact  there  was  no 
"  wolf."  "  It  was  intended,"  said  he,  "  merely  to 
intimidate  Sam's  followers,  while  the  field  before  them 
was  one  of  hope  and  promise  on  all  sides,  through 
which  the  American  boys  were  proudly  marching  in 
one  unbroken  phalanx,  with  joy  unspeakable  in  store 
for  them  when  the  march  was  over."  And  then,  to 
prove  his  position,  he  drew  from  his  imagination, 
away  down  in  the  realms  of  fiction,  many  beautiful 
and  consoling  little  fancies,  of  which  the  following 
may  serve  as  specimens : 

"  It  is  certain  that  the  ticket  has  struck  terror  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Democracy  ;  and  it  is  already  whis 
pered,  that  men  high  in  Locofoco  repute  have  advised 
that  the  party  forthwith  withdraw  their  candidates 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       231 

from  the  field  and  allow  '  Sam'  to  walk  in  without 
an  opponent." 

"  A  friend  who  has  recently  traveled  extensively 
through  the  State,  gives  it,  as  his  opinion,  that  our 
majority  will  certainly  not  fall  below  twenty  thousand 
and  will  probably  exceed  forty  thousand." 

It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  friend  here 
alluded  to,  was  the  "  New  York  Herald's"  reporter, 
who  was  sent  here  to  follow  gentlemen  about,  and  fur 
nished  garbled  reports  of  their  addresses. 

"  In  Chesterfield,  the  city  of  Petersburg,  and  all 
the  south  side  counties,  '  Sam'  is  bearing  down  all 
before  him.  So  writes  one  who  knows." 

"  A  gentleman,  from  Franklin  county,  who  has, 
heretofore,  been  a  Democrat,  assures  us  that  Bocock 
will  be  defeated  in  that  congressional  district  by  a 
crushing  majority.  '  Our  Nat,'  is  &  powerful  man." 

"  Chastain  White,  that  fiery  young  orator,  who 
aspires  to  a  seat  in  the  state  senate,  from  Hanover 
and  Henrico,  will  find  that  his  ambition  has  received 
a  check,  from  the  strong  '  Eeins,'  which  the  American 
party  has  placed  upon  him ;  these  two  counties  will 
give  not  less  than  five  hundred  majority,  for  the 
whole  American  ticket." 

"  In  the  north-west  there  are  at  least  one  hundred 
initiates,  to  one  withdrawal ;  the  American  leaven 
will  leaven  the  whole  lump,  in  this  section,  so  says 
one  of  our  exchanges." 

"  A  writer,  from  the  central  west,  gives  the  best 
tidings  of  '  Sam,'  in  that  section ;  but  counsels  his 
party  not  to  exult  too  highly,  lest  thereby,  the  feel- 


232       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 

ings  of  the  unfortunate  Democrats  will  be  greatly 
wounded." 

"  The  south-west  is  thoroughly  aroused.  The 
death-rattle  will  soon  be  heard  in  the  throat  of  the 
once  powerful  and  popular  Democracy ;  peace  to  its 
ashes !  So  writes  an  intelligent  farmer  from  that 
section." 

"  We  learn  that  (  Sam'  is  well  received  and  gaining 
popularity,  where  least  expected,  in  the  counties  of 
Eockingham  and  Shenandoah." 

"  It  is  useless  for  us  to  speak  of  Loudon  and  old 
Augusta ;  if  the  opposition,  in  both  counties,  poll  a 
baker's  dozen,  they  will  be  doing  well." 

"We  don't  encourage  betting,  but  boys  plank 
down  the  tin,  when  solicited  by  the  green  horns,  but 
never  take  advantage  of  ignorance,  by  playing  an 
open  and  shut  game.  It  would  be  dishonest  in  you, 
to  bet  on  the  result  without  saying  more ;  so,  for  the 
sake  of  fairness,  always  bet  on  twenty-five  or  thirty 
thousand  majority  for  our  ticket." 

"  Let  us  hear  of  more  withdrawals,  such  news  is 
always  refreshing ;  for  we  are  assured  by  it  that  the 
good  grain  is  being  separated  from  the  chaff.  We 
want  not  a  grain  of  smut  or  cheat  left  in  the  great 
bulk  our  party  is  laying  aside  for  the  final  reckoning 
up,  on  election  day." 

These  were,  some  of  the  slightly  extravagant  say 
ings  of  Mr.  Turner's  paper,  the  acknowledged  organ 
of  the  Know  Nothing  party,  though  this  extrava 
gance  of  assertion  and  bragadocio,  may  be  regarded 
as  the  least  objectionable  feature  of  all  its  career. 

By  this  time  most  of  the  Whig  papers  of  the  State 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM    IN   VIRGINIA.       233 

had  wheeled  into  line ;  and  it  was  quite  amusing  to 
hear  the  savage  yelpings  of  the  little  "  ten  by  twelve" 
village  thumb  papers,  as  they  tried  to  imitate  the 
sonorous  growls  of  the  big  party  mastiff.  They 
copied  all  his  howls  and  whines ;  and  whenever  he 
issued  a  savage  bow,  wow,  wow,  close  at  the  Demo 
cracy's  heels,  all  their  little  tails  wagged  with  inex 
pressible  delight. 

Unfortunately  for  the  cause,  the  Know  Nothing 
pack  did  not  consist  of  trained  runners,  but  of  every 
variety  of  genuine  and  mongrel  species,  so  that,  in 
the  chase,  they  did  not  keep  well  together ;  and  it 
was  only  when  they  heard  a  bugle  note,  from  the  old 
leader,  that  all  agreed  that  that  was  the  true  track  by 
which  to  reach  the  spoils.  So  the  huntsman  cheered 
and  whooped  whenever  Turner  opened,  declaring 
Democracy  too  impotent  for  the  contest.  Thus  went 
the  night  hunt,  "'over  the  hills,  and  far  away," 
through  old  Virginia's  plains. 

Nearly  every  Whig  paper,  probably  there  was  not 
a  single  exception,  supported  the  Know  Nothing 
ticket,  while  it  was  not  uncommon  at  all  to  see 
lengthy  articles  in  these  very  papers  making  the 
assertion,  and  endeavoring  to  sustain  it,  that  this 
party  was  not  the  old  Federal  party  under  a  new 
name ;  in  this  they  must  have  trusted  largely  on  the 
credulity  or  the  ignorance  of  the  Democracy.  In 
truth,  there  never  was  a  more  abortive  attempt  at  a 
deep  game.  Never  were  men's  real  designs  more 
thoroughly  read,  through  the  thin  transparencies  of 
deceit  and  trickery,  than  theirs  by  the  Virginia 
Democracy  in  the  campaign  of  1855. 

20* 


23i      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

But  fearing  to  rely  too  much  on  these  shallow 
transpariencies,  lest  in  so  doing  they  might  shoot 
wide  of  their  mark,  they  endeavored  to  fortify  them 
selves  at  all  points,  so  as  to  make  assurance  doubly 
sure,  and  to  this  end  they  not  unfrequently  devoted 
whole  columns,  endeavoring  to  prove,  what  has  never 
yet  been  disputed,  in  America  at  least,  that  Ameri 
cans  should  rule  America.  Foreigners  were  some 
what  scarce  in  Virginia,  and  they  could  well  afford 
to  lose  them  all,  provided  that  in  making  this 
sacrifice  they  could  win  the  affection  of  every  native. 
Then,  again,  in  the  absence  of  everything  like  prin 
ciples  to  sustain  them,  (true,  they  had  a  public  basis 
of  principles,  which  they  in  secret  ignored  them 
selves,)  which  is  inferred,  from  the  fact  that  they 
never  in  good  faith  declared  any,  or  so  much  as  in 
timated,  under  what  policy  the  government  would  be 
administered  under  their  rule :  they  attacked  private 
character,  dwelt  largely  in  personalities,  and  in 
Billingsgate,  against  the  gentlemen  who  composed 
the  Democratic  ticket,  and  against  prominent  mem 
bers  of  this  party  generally.  In  short,  the  Know 
Nothing  presses  did  well  and  faithfully  the  bidding 
of  their  supporters,  these  engaged  in  midnight  con 
spiracies  against  Virginia's  fame  and  honor. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      235 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

OLD  CAPTAIN  SWYBURG,  Know  Nothing  canvasser 
at  large  for  the  State  of  Virginia,  expressed  his  wil 
lingness  to  take  the  Tenth  Legion  in  his  tour,  and 
"  contribute  towards  the  beautiful  dawn  of  Ameri 
can  light  in  that  heathenish  land  of  Jackson  in 
Democracy." 

He  has  now  entered  within  its  borders,  and  it  may 
not  be  out  of  place  here  to  trace  his  course  for  a 
while,  and  see  how  he  is  getting  on  in  his  work  of 
love. 

The  reader  can  appreciate  his  sorrowful  feelings, 
as,  solitary  and  alone,  he  entered  that  country,  which 
the  vote  of  years  has  consecrated  to  the  stately  step- 
pings  of  Democracy.  His  heart  throbs  for  sympathy 
from  some  quarter,  and  after  traveling  for  a  day,  and 
finding  none,  he  at  length  drew  a  halt  at  the  house 
of  an  old  friend,  and  spent  the  night.  His  friend, 
with  whom  he  stopped,  was  a  Democrat.  Politics 
was  the  subject  discussed,  but  the  old  Captain  was 
afraid  to  show  his  cloven  foot,  and  never  did  a  man 
discourse  more  beautifully  than  he  did  on  the  prin 
ciples  of  Democracy.  The  Captain  practised  this 
deception,  that  he  might  get  certain  information  that 
would  be  of  service  to  him ;  so,  just  before  retiring, 
he  asked  his  friend  if  there  were  "  any  enemies  of 
our  country,"  in  the  neighborhood  ? 

"  Enemies !     What  do  you  mean  ?" 


236       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA 

"  I  mean  these  disgraceful  Know  Nothings." 

"  Oh,  ho!  I  understand.  No,  happily  for  us,  none 
just  about  here;  but  there  are  several  suspected  of 
the  thing  some  miles  below  this,  in  the  village  of 
• ,"  calling  their  names. 

This  was  all  the  Captain  wanted ;  and  he  went  to 
bed,  congratulating  himself  secretly  at  his  masterly 
art  of  deception. 

The  old  Captain  started  next  morning,  bright  and 
early,  for  the  village  in  which  he  had  been  told  there 
were  several  Know  Nothings.  Now  this  was  his 
native  village ;  he  had  resided  there  many  years, 
knew  everybody,  and  everybody  knew  him  as  a  first 
rate  Democrat ;  he  anticipated  glorious  success  ;  and, 
as  he  wrote  to  his  Council  boys,  he  intended  "  to 
bring  them  in  under  the  cover  of  their  own  gar 
ments." 

This,  too,  was  the  same  village  in  which  his  prede 
cessor,  Mr.  Uriah  Hawks,  had  stopped,  and  noticed 
the  structure  in  the  vacant  lot,  opposite  the  tavern. 

About  midday  the  Captain  reined  up  at  the  tavern, 
and  was  met  by  the  landlord. 

"  "Well,  bless  me,"  said  the  landlord,  "  if  this  ain't 
'  old  Swy !'  Glad  to  see  you — glad  to  see  you,  Swy ; 
old  fellow,  how  do  you  ?" 

The  greeting  over,  the  Captain  glanced  at  the 
structure,  and  inquired  for  what  purpose  it  was 
there. 

"  Oh,  it  is  not  worth  while  to  tell  you;  it  was  not 
intended  for  such  as  you." 

"  Maybe  not ;  but  still  you  can  gratify  my  cu 
riosity,  can't  you  ?" 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        237 

"  Oh  yes,  as  to  the  matter  of  that  I  can ;  but  come, 
walk  in,  and  while  I  am  mixing  you  up  a  toddy  I 
will  tell  you." 

He  began,  and  used  the  same  words  and  gestures 
he  had  employed  in  explaining  it  to  Mr.  Hawks. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Captain,  u  suppose  I  tell  you  that 
/  am  a  Know  Nothing  ?"  not  knowing  exactly  what 
reply  to  make. 

"  If  you  were  to  tell  me  that,  I  reckon  about  the 
first  thing  I  would  do  would  be  to  tell  you  that  you 
lied ;  and  if  you  insisted  on  the  truth  of  it,  I  expect 
about  the  next  thing  I  would  do  would  be  to  order 
you  out  of  my  house,  and  if  you  didn't  go,  I  pre 
sume  about  the  next  step  I  would  take  in  the  premi 
ses,  would  be  to  kick  you  out.  No,  Swy,  it  is  im 
possible  .for  you  to  be  a  Know  Nothing.  Why,  don't 
I  remember  that  a  long  time  ago  you  licked  a  fellow 
over  the  Ridge,  at  the  barbacue,  because  he  said 
Jackson  had  removed  or  taken  all  of  the  funds  of 
the  United  States  Bank  ?  And  did  not  that  same 
fellow,  in  the  scuffle,  bite  off  the  lower  extremity  of 
your  left  ear?  Why,  Swy,"  raising  his  hair  from 
his  left  ear,  "  this  crop  is  a  lasting  monument  to  your 
Democracy." 

Swy  was  fairly  overcome,  and  was  thus  forced  to 
declare  his  adherence  to  the  Democracy.  He  re 
mained  in  town  several  days,  receiving  the  honest 
greetings  of  his  old  acquaintances,  who  were  really 
glad  to  see  him.  His  stay  here  reminded  him  of  the 
good  old  days  when  he  lived  here,  and  when  his 
opinions  on  political  subjects  were  highly  respected 
by  the  Democracy.  He  hoped  that  during  his 


238        LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF   SAM    IX    VIRGINIA. 

sojourn,  something  would  turn  up  which  would 
enable  him  to  make  known  the  subject  of  his 
mission.  But  so  far  from  this,  his  very  presence 
seemed  to  enliven  and  stimulate  the  Democrats. 
They  at  last  held  a  meeting,  and  appointed  a  com 
mittee  to  wait  upon  the  Captain,  and  request  him  to 
address  the  people  on  a  particular  day ;  but  he 
pleaded  urgent  business  in  another  section  of  the 
county ;  and  as  the  Captain  rode  through  town  on 
his  departure,  his  coat  pockets  stuck  out  full  of  good 
wholesome  electioneering  documents,  which  the  De 
mocratic  boys  had  handed  him,  with  the  request  that 
he  would  distribute  them  in  his  travels.  What  be 
came  of  the  documents  is  not  known,  though  it  is 
supposed  that,  before  he  traveled  many  miles,  he 
dismounted,  and  buried  them  in  the  ground. 

His  visit  to  his  native  village  resulted  in  not  one 
initiate  into  the  Order.  He  traveled  for  several 
days  with  very  poor  success,  so  he  at  last  concluded 
to  make  a  bold  stand — to  make  a  desperate  effort, 
make  or  break.  This  was  to  address  the  people  in 
behalf  of  Americanism  and  the  Winchester  ticket. 
He  could  do  this  now  without  violating  any  law  of 
the  Order,  as  the  day  fixed  upon  for  allowing  mem 
bers  of  the  party  to  speak  in  public  had  now  come. 
The  Democracy  in  the  neighborhood  he  was  in  were 
making  preparations  for  a  barbacue,  when  several 
addresses  would  be  delivered,  and  gentlemen  of  the 
opposite  party  invited  to  be  present,  and  to  put  for 
ward  a  speaker  or  speakers  if  they  desired.  The  day 
came,  and  to  the  barbacue  went  the  Captain,  and  when 
invitation  was  given  for  some  opposition  orator  to 


LIFE    AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       239 

address  the  people,  up  he  arose,  to  the  astonishment  of 
all  who  knew  him.  He  began  "by  saying  "  that  the 
American  movement  was  entirely  disconnected  from 
the  old  parties,  but  was  in  truth  very  Democratic  in 
all  its  features ;  was  the  very  party  for  all  true  Demo 
crats,"  &c.,  &c. 

In  the  course  of  his  remarks,  he  stated  "  that  the 
cause  had  been  greatly  prejudiced  in  the  Tenth  Le 
gion  by  a  traveling  Yankee,  who  had  proved  an 
infamous  traitor  to  his  party.  He  had  heard,  to  his 
s  xrrow,  that  he  had  imposed  upon  a  trusting  maiden 
of  the  mountains,  and  was  actually  married.  He 
warned  all,  should  they  meet  with  this  fellow,  to  have 
as  little  as  possible  to  do  with  him.  His  name  is  H. 
Uriah  Hawks." 

Just  then  a  gentleman  in  the  crowd  arose  and 
asked  to  be  heard ;  and  who  should  it  be  but  the 
veritable  Mr.  Hawks,  who  up  to  this  time  was  unob 
served  by  the  Captain. 

"Fellow  citizens,"  said  he,  "I  am  no  speaker,  but 
such  language,  from  such  a  source,  cannot  be  passed 
in  silence.  I  certainly  should  not  have  recognised 
my  portrait,  which  the  individual  drew  of  me  in  such 
strong  colors,  had  he  not  attached  my  name  to  the 
bottom  of  it. 

"  Gentlemen,  as  to  the  question  of  my  birth,  my 
being  a  Yankee,  &c.,  I  think  you  will  all  bear  me  out 
in  saying,  that  that  was  a  matter  over  which  /could 
exercise  no  possible  control.  I  have  endeavored 
always  to  live  an  honorable  and  honest  life.  The 
great  misdeed  of  my  life — the  one  which  has  caused 
me  more  genuine  sorrow  than  all  others  put  together — 


240       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

he  who  has  so  villified  and  traduced  me  here  in  your 
presence  to-day  was  wholly  instrumental  in  bringing 
it  about ;  I  allude  to  my  brief  connection  with  the 
political  organization  which  he  has  the  honor  of 
representing  on  this  occasion.  By  him  I  was  most 
importunately  solicited — yes,  by  him  induced  to  join. 
I  did  not  profess  to  be  a  politician ;  but  placing  confi 
dence  in  that  man,  I  listened  to  his  honeyed  words, 
and  fell.  But  the  same  hand  which  struck  me  to 
that  position — low,  indeed,  among  men  who  love  their 
country — was  indirectly  the  cause  of  my  salvation ; 
for  it  was  at  his  persuasion  that  I  was  induced  to 
come  among  you,  who  soon  taught  me  the  error  of 
my  ways,  and  I  at  once  requested  and  received  a  clear 
acquittance  from  the  oath-bound  organization. 

"  Traitor  did  he  call  me  ?  To  what  party  had  he 
always  belonged,  until  he  failed  in  an  application  for 
office  from  the  present  administration?  He  was  a 
Democrat,  and  you  have  read  in  my  language  the 
secret  of  his  change.  This,  I  have  understood,  is  his 
native  county ;  moreover,  that  he  resided  here  long, 
and  was  favorably  known.  If  such  be  true,  then  the 
old  man  has  sadly  changed.  He  deceived  me — he  is 
here  to-day  to  deceive  you — beware  of  him.  If  no 
one  hearkens  jto  his  voice  here  to  day,  I  shall  not  so 
much  regret  the  character  he  gave  me  before  you, 
inasmuch  as  his  slander  gave  me  the  opportunity  of 
showing  him  off  in  his  true  colors.  I  shall  not  ask 
of  him  satisfaction  for  his  attempt  to  injure  my  repu 
tation — his  age  protects  him  on  this  score — so  I  con 
tent  myself  with  simply  turning  him  over  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  the  Tenth  Legion  Democracy. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA.      2-il 

Deal  leniently  with  him ;  but  heed  not  his  voice,  I 
beseech  you,  one  and  all.  I  thank  you,  gentlemen, 
for  the  attention  you  have  given  me." 

The  applause  with  which  this  explanation  was 
received,  showed  that  the  sympathy  of  the  company 
was  with  him. 

"  Three  cheers  for  Hawks,"  shouted  one  of  the 
auditors,  in  a  deep-toned  voice ;  and  forthwith  went 
up,  with  deafening  roar,  the  three  cheers  for  Hawks 
and  Democracy. 

When  order  was  restored,  the  old  Captain  desired 
to  say  a  few  words,  "  He  perfectly  well  knew  that 
the  sympathy  of  the  crowd  was  not  in  his  favor,  but 
he  stood  again  upon  his  native  soil,  after  some  years 
of  absence  from  it,  and  he  thought  that  his  old  friends, 
and  the  sons  of  his  old  friends,  would  give  him  a 
respectful  hearing."  He  then  went  on  to  say  that  he 
"did  not  come  to  the  place  to  get  into  a  personal  con 
troversy  with  any  one,  but  to  declare  the  glorious 
and  immutable  principles  of  the  American  party." 
These  descriptive  adjectives  of  the  American  party, 
were  received  with  shouts  of  laughter  from  all  quar 
ters  of  the  ground,  and  it  growing  late,  several  voices 
began  to  cry  out,  "  dinner,  dinner,  let's  go  to  dinner," 
"go  it,  old  Swy,"  "go  back  to  Tuckahoe,"  "you 
can't  come  it  over  the  mountain  boys,"  and  old  Swy, 
was  actually  forced  to  sit  down  ;  and  thus  ended  his 
boast  to  the  Council,  that  "  if  he  found  that  fellow, 
Hawks,  he  would  show  him  up  in  his  true  colors ;" 
so  that  the  Captain  found  himself  somewhat  in  the 
predicament  of  the  man  who  went  out  "  after  wool, 
and  came  back  shorn."  He  began,  now,  to  realize 

21 


242       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

the  difficulty  of  bringing  "  the  Tenth  Legion  boys  in, 
under  the  cover  of  their  own  garments,"  (principles) 
and  determined  in  his  future  electioneering,  in  "  the 
Legion,"  to  pay  his  respects  especially  to  the  Whigs. 
He  did  not  attempt  to  accomplish  any  thing  for  the 
cause  at  the  barbacue,  after  the  treatment  he  received, 
while  endeavoring  to  advocate  his  cause  publicly. 
The  truth  was,  Uriah  stood  very  well  in  his  neighbor 
hood,  and  his  remarks  placed  the  Captain  in  such  an 
awkward  attitude,  before  the  sovereigns  present,  that 
he  saw  that  it  would  be  worse  than  useless  to  attempt 
to  make  any  converts  at  that  place.  He  also  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  unwise  to  declare  his 
principles  publicly,  in  the  Legion,  and  determined  in 
future,  to  adhere  to  his  clandestine  measures.  He 
was  the  most  indefatigable  of  men  ;  it  was  one  of  his 
boasts,  that  he  never  would  be  out-done  at  what  he 
attempted,  and  if  he  could  not  succeed  in  one  way 
he  would  try  another.  His  treatment,  and  his  poor 
success  in  the  Tenth  Legion,  had  now  aroused  all  his 
energies,  and  to  get  initiates,  he  was  not  at  all  scru 
pulous  as  to  the  means  employed.  After  some  days 
of  hard  work,  fortune,  as  he  thought,  began  to  favor 
him.  Some  of  the  Know  Nothing  lawyers,  from 
Staunton,  had  attended  one  of  the  courts  in  Rock- 
ingham,  and  had  prepared  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
old  Whigs,  in  a  particular  locality,  for  the  reception 
of  Know  Nothing  principles.  Well,  the  old  Captain 
had  the  good  luck  to  get  into  this  locality,  and  sure 
enough  established  a  lodge.  But  the  truth  is,  Know 
Nothingism  never  did  flourish  to  any  great  extent  in 
the  Legion,  notwithstanding  the  strenuous  efforts  of 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       243 

the  Captain,  and  the  band  of  recreants  he  had  drawn 
around  him,  and  he  was  really  delighted  when  he 
received  a  communication  from  his  Council,  saying, 
"  that  doubtless  he  had  already  set  the  ball  in  motion 
in  that  section,  which  would  roll  on,  and  on,  accu 
mulating,  till  the  day  of  election,  and  directing  him 
to  visit  certain  counties  in  eastern  Yirginia. 

It  afterwards  appeared  that  the  Captain,  as  soon  as 
he  established  the  lodge  alluded  to,  wrote  to  a  friend, 
confidentially,  to  procure  his  recall  from  the  district, 
and  it  was  at  the  solicitation  of  this  friend,  before  the 
Council,  that  the  order  changing  his  field  of  labor 
was  issued.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  Captain 
had  the  impudence  to  write  and  publish  the  follow 
ing  letter,  in  Mr.  Turner's  paper  soon  after  leaving 
the  valley. 

"  MR.  EDITOR  : 

"I  have  recently  traveled  extensively  through 
several  of  the  valley  counties,  Rockingham  and  She- 
nandoah  included,  and  it  may  appear  incredible,  but 
it  is  nevertheless  true,  that  a  strong  current  has  set 
in  in  favor  of  the  American  ticket,  and,  I  d©  verily 
believe,  that  had  the  nominations  been  made  sooner, 
we  would  have  carried  the  whole  Tenth  Legion  ;  as 
it  is  we  shall  press  the  foreign  ticket  hard.  There 
being  nothing  in  our  principles  incompatible  with 
the  doctrines  of  the  Democratic  party,  in  fact  they 
being  essentially  Democratic.  The  Tenth  'Legioners' 
are  delighted  with  them,  and  a  great  many  have  told 
me  openly,  that  they  intended  to  vote  our  ticket. 
Mr.  Editor,  wherever  our  bases  of  principles  are  read, 


244       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

they  cannot  fail  to  impress  the  reflecting  with  a  sense 
of  their  conservatism.  The  old  questions  that  have 
heretofore  divided  the  parties,  are  as  nothing  com 
pared  with  the  great  questions  now  appealing  to 
every  patriot,  and  Christian,  as  to  whether  foreigners 
or  Americans  shall  rule  America;  or  as  to  whether 
the  religion  of  our  country  shall  be  subverted  by  the 
base  heresies  of  Komanism.  These  are  the  questions, 
the  prime  questions,  which  the  people  of  Virginia 
will  be  called  upon  to  decide,  and  to  these  questions, 
the  valley  counties  will  give  a  favorable  response,  in 
May  next.  It  is  generally  hard  to  break  in  upon  the 
long  established  affinities  and  opinions  of  any  com 
munity,  but  the  potency  of  American  principles  is 
being  felt  even  in  the  Tenth  Legion,  that  land  of 
Democrats,  and  the  opposition  party  is  fast  tottering 
to  its  fall. 

"  Your  truly, 

"  TRAVELER." 

It  should  have  been  stated  before,  that  several  of 
Uriah's  friends,  urged  upon  him  to  demand  satisfac 
tion  of  "  Mr.  Swyburg,"  for  the  insulting  remarks  he 
had  made  towards  him.  But  Uriah,  like  most  of  the 
Yankee  race,  was  not  particularly  noted  for  courage, 
and  had  the  greatest  horror  for  bloody  noses,  scratches, 
fist  thumps,  and  gouges  (not  to  say  any  thing  about 
powder  and  ball)  imaginable,  so  he  persisted,  that  in 
consideration  of  the  man's  age,  &c.,  he  had  taken 
the  right  course  in  exposing  him  to  the  gentlemen 
present. 

While  his  friends  were  importuning  him  to  "  lick" 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       245 

the  Captain,  his  father-in-law,  old  Mr.  Laubinger, 
arrived  upon  the  ground.  The  case  was  soon  stated 
to  him,  and  he  thought  Uriah  had  acted  perfectly 
right.  "  But,"  said  he,  "  show  the  fellow  to  me,  and 
if  he  is  about  my  age,  I  will  take  him  in  hand,  and 
he  shall  retract,  or  whip  me,  certain."  Swyburg  was 
pointed  out  to  him,  and  old  Mr.  Laubinger  stepped 
up  to  him,  saying,  "  You  are  a  stranger  to  me,  sir, 
but  I  have  understood  that  you  have  to-day  insulted 
my  son-in-law,  Mr.  Hawks,  who  very  bravely  and 
generously,  in  consideration  of  the  inequality  of  your 
ages,  declined  to  demand  satisfaction;  but,  sir,  there 
is  no  great  difference  in  our  ages,  so  you  have  your 
choice,  to  retract  your  offensive  epithets  against 
Hawks,  or  entertain  me,  for  a  few  brief  moments, 
in  a  fight."  The  old  Captain  was  true  game,  but  as 
he  did  not  care  to  carry  a  black  eye  about  with  him 
on  his  electioneering  tour,  he  very  flatly  declared, 
"  that  he  had  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  he  had  only 
applied  the  epithet,  traitor,  to  Mr.  Hawks,  in  a  politi 
cal  sense ;  that  he  had  nothing  to  say  against  him, 
derogatory  to  his  personal  character,  and  that  he  had 
only  warned  gentlemen  to  beware  of  him,  politically." 
The  bystanders,  thought  this  apology  sufficient,  and 
old  Mr.  Laubinger  turned  down  his  coat-sleeves,  and 
allowed  his  rigid  muscles  to  relax,  much  to  the  relief 
of  the  Captain. 


24:6      LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  most  of  Maurice  Meredith's  time  is  now  spent 
in  electioneering.  His  friends  are  looking  up  to  him 
to  carry  the  district.  They  are  continually  minister 
ing  to  his  vanity,  and  telling  him  that  the  question 
of  defeat  or  victory  in  the  district  rests  upon  him. 
Thus  encouraged,  he  bends  every  nerve  to  the  con 
test,  and  labors  with  a  zeal  worthy  of  a  better  cause. 
All  the  time  he  does  not  devote  to  the  canvass  he 
devotes  to  Fannie ;  he  is  a  very  frequent  visitor  at 
her  father's  house.  What  a  happy  man  he  is!  so 
confident  of  his  election,  so  well  convinced  that  his 
love  for  Fannie  is  honestly  reciprocated.  How  beau 
tifully  he  sketches  life's  journey  before  them,  which 
they  have  pledged  to  travel  together  !  She  is  to  share 
all  his  joys ;  and  if  perchance  adverse  fortune  should 
vent  its  vials  of  wrath  upon  them,  he  tells  her  with 
what  confidence  he  will  look  up  to  her,  the  strong- 
minded  woman,  with  a  woman's  tender  heart,  strong 
in  adversity,  to  whisper  peace  to  his  troubled  heart, 
and  teach  him  to  bear  the  ills  of  life.  A  warm 
hearted,  trusting  girl,  she  enters  into  the  spirit  of  all 
his  bright  and  beautiful  anticipations,  and  bids  him 
not  invite  the  ills  of  life  by  speaking  of  them.  Many 
were  the  blissful  hours  they  passed  together,  under 
the  influence  of  that  elevating  and  refining  sentiment, 
where  two  young  hearts  are  locked  together  in  sym 
pathy.  After  a  while,  these  two  hearts  form  a  world 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIEGINIA.        247 

within  their  secret  courts,  and  in  this  world  they  live, 
oblivious  to  the  stern  realities  that  are  being  enacted 
in  the  cold,  outer,  everyday  world ;  and  in  this  little 
world,  heart  speaks  to  heart,  glance  answers  glance, 
tongues  utter  vows,  and  vows  anticipate  a  wedding. 

So  while  Fannie  and  Maurice  were  communing 
together  in  this  world  of  their  own  creating,  so  unro- 
mantic  a  subject  as  politics  had  never  entered  their 
heads,  and  consequently  she  knew  nothing  of  his 
political  principles ;  true,  he  had  spoken  of  his  con 
templated  trip  to  Washington,  but  he  never  thought 
it  necessary  to  tell  her  that  he  was  going  as  a  Know 
Nothing  representative  to  Congress ;  and  if  he  ever 
thought  of  telling  her  of  his  visit  to  Washington  in 
that  capacity,  a  mysterious  foreboding  would  warn 
him  against  it.  Nor  had  they  in  their  own  little 
world  ever  talked  on  the  subject  of  religion,  so  Fan 
nie  had  never  told  him  of  her  connection  with  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  and,  strange  to  say,  he  had 
perhaps  never  heard  it  from  any  other  source ;  in  all 
probability,  the  fact  was  not  generally  known.  She 
was  frequently  seen  in  her  father's  pew  in  the  Episco 
pal  Church,  during  service,  though  she  by  no  means 
neglected  her  own  church.  If  Maurice  was  aware  of 
the  fact,  he  never  spoke  to  her  of  it ;  if  he  was  aware 
of  it,  he  doubtless  calculated  on  procuring  her  with 
drawal  from  that  Church  before  the  nuptials,  as  it  was 
against  the  rules  of  the  Order  for  a  member  to  have  a 
Catholic  wife.  The  probabilities  are,  though,  that  he 
had  no  idea  of  her  connection  with  that  Church. 

In  politics,  Fannie's  father  was  a  Democrat.  lie 
had  frequent  conversations  with  Maurice  on  political 


248        LIFE   AND    DEATH    OF   SAM   IN    VIEGINIA. 

questions,  from  which  the  old  man  inferred  that  he 
was  an  old  line  Whig.  He  entertained  the  highest 
respect  for  Maurice,  and  by  no  means  sought  to  dis 
courage  the  alliance  which  he  desired  to  make  with 
his  daughter.  Maurice  had  not  yet  asked  his  consent 
for  the  bestowal  of  his  daughter's  hand  in  marriage; 
but  then  he  had  learned  how  matters  stood,  from  Fan 
nie,  and  he  offered  no  objection  to  her  choice,  but 
advised  her  to  weigh  well  so  important  a  matter,  and 
not  enter  into  it  unadvisedly,  and  without  thoughtful 
consideration. 

A  few  days  after  he  had  given  his  daughter  this 
advice,  he  attended  court  in  an  adjoining  county,  on 
which  occasion  notice  had  been  given  in  the  papers 
that  there  would  be  political  speeches  delivered.  It 
was  not  yet  known,  publicly,  who  the  Know  Noth 
ing  candidate  for  Congress  was,  though  the  nomina 
tion  had  been  made  some  time.  When  the  time  for 
the  speaking  arrived,  Mr.  Maurice  Meredith  was 
conducted  to  the  stand  by  his  friends. 

He  stated  that  "  his  friends  had  confered  the  honor 
of  the  nomination  for  a  seat  in  Congress  for  the  dis 
trict  of  which  this  county  is  a  part."  He  accepted 
the  nomination  in  handsome  terms,  and  then  pro 
ceeded  to  harangue  the  people  at  some  length,  and 
in  the  course  of  his  remarks,  dwelt  long  upon  the 
Roman  Catholic  question,  and  indulged  in  a  great 
deal  of  useless  wrath  against  this  denomination.  His 
speech,  upon  the  whole,  was  just  such  as  is  fre 
quently  heard  from  an  able  man  when  he  finds 
himself  on  the  wrong  side  of  a  question,  exhibiting 


LIFE  AXD   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       249 

a  great  deal  of  sophistry,  but  very  little  of  truth  or 
candor. 

It  was  well  received  by  his  political  friends,  who 
frequently  applauded  most  uproariously,  and  when 
it  was  finished,  pronounced  it  "  a  masterly  effort." 

A  Democratic  speaker  was  then  introduced,  and 
who  should  it  be  but  Mr.  Dew,  with  whom  the  reader 
is  already  acquainted.  He  made  a  spirited  and 
"  masterly  effort,"  and  never  were  the  arguments 
of  an  opponent  more  thoroughly  answered,  than 
were  Meredith's ;  one  by  one,  he  attacked  the  posi 
tions  assumed  by  his  opponent,  and  with  unsparing 
hand  tore-off  the  specious  dresses  of  sophistry  in 
which  they  were  clothed,  and  exposed  their  fal 
laciousness.  Never  did  a  party  appear  in  a  more 
unenviable  light,  than  the  American,  when  he  was 
done  dissecting  it.  He  dwelt  long  and  forcibly  on 
what  the  Democratic  party  of  Virginia  had  done  for 
the  Union,  ancj.  the  anxiety  that  was  now  felt  for  its 
success  in  all  the  southern  land  of  chivalry;  and 
concluded  with  an  eloquent  appeal  to  the  old  Demo 
crats  once  more  to  stand  by  their  ancient  faith,  once 
more  save  Virginia  and  the  Union. 

This  was  the  happiest  effort  of  Mr.  Dew's  life,  and 
never  was  a  speech  more  enthusiastically  received  01 
more  justly  complimented. 

Mr.  Meredith  attempted  a  rejoinder,  but  he  got 
along  badly,  feeling,  no  doubt,  that  his  adversary 
had  the  advantage  of  him. 

Mr.  Dew  then  concluded  in  a  few  happy  hits. 
The  Democracy  came  off  the  acknowledged  victors 
in  the  discussion,  and  Mr.  7)ew  fell;  a  peculiar  satis- 


250       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

faction  in  having  thus  worsted  his  old  rival  before 
the  people. 

It  was  said  above,  that  Mr.  Bell  (Farmie's  father) 
was  present  at  this  discussion.  Yes,  he  was  there, 
and  heard  the  whole  of  it.  Greatly  astonished, 
greatly  mortified  was  he,  to  know  that  Maurice  was 
a  member  of  the  American  party. 

The  old  gentleman  returned  home  in  a  reflecting 
mood ;  he  doted  with  a  father's  warm  and  burning 
love  upon  his  daughter;  yea,  he  idolized  her.  He 
thought  of  Maurice's  awful  denunciations  against 
the  Eoman  Catholics,  and  argued  from  thence  that 
breakers  were  already  looming  up  in  the  distance, 
upon  which  the  happiness  of  his  almost  angel  girl 
would  be  shipwrecked,  and  she  be  tossed  on  the 
wild  waste  of  grief's  black  waters,  whose  angry 
billows  no  pitying  tear  from  a  father's  eye,  no  gentle 
consolation  from  a  mother's  heart,  no  buoyant  word 
of  hope  from  the  tongue  of  a  friend  could  assuage. 

He  felt  satisfied  that  Maurice  did  not  know  of  his 
daughter's  connection  with  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  If  he  did  know  it,  he  was  playing  a  mys 
terious  part.  Can  he  expect  to  influence  Fannie, 
and  get  her  to  withdraw  from  her  Church  ?  At  any 
rate,  I  fear  and  tremble  for  Fannie.  Poor  girl.  She 
certainly  did  not  know  of  his  political  affinities  when 
she  promised  to  marry  him.  And  in  this  wise  the 
old  father  mused  within  himself,  not  knowing  ex 
actly  what  course  to  take. 

Several  days  after  the  debate,  he  determined  to 
hold  a  conversation  with  Fannie  on  the  subject,  and 
sent  for  her  to  come  to  his  library.  When  he  heard 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       251 

her  gentle  footsteps  approching,  lie  brushed  a  tear 
from  either  eye,  and  tried  to  appear  as  composed  as 
possible.  He  glanced  at  Fannie,  and  observed  that 
there  was  an  unusual  paleness  resting  on  her  cheek, 
but  concluded  that  this  was  occasioned  by  this 
unusual  summons  into  his  presence,  and  that  she 
anticipated  some  unwelcome  news  from  him. 

"  Fannie,"  said  he,  "I  wish  to  converse  with,  you 
on  a  subject  which  I  dislike  to  mention,  but  I  desire 
that  you  will  speak  candidly  and  freely  with  me. 

"  Were  you  aware,  at  the  time  you  promised  to 
marry  Mr.  Meredith,  that  he  belonged  to  a  political 
party,  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  which  is  to  proscribe 
the  members  of  the  Church  to  which  you  belong  ?" 

"No  sir,"  said  she,  calmly  and  deliberately,  "I 
was  not ;  but  I  have  to-day  received  an  account  of 
his  speech,  delivered  a  few  days  since  in  behalf  of 
that  party.  Some  kind  friend  was  good  enough  to 
send  me  a  copy  of  the  paper  containg  the  notice, 
marked." 

The  old  man  thought  he  read  in  this  answer  the 
secret  of  the  palor,  which  marked  her  cheeks,  when 
she  entered  into  his  presence.  Alas  !  meditated  he ; 
the  blighting  chill  has  already  entered  her  heart; 
and  he  offered  up  a  prayer  that  its  ravages  might  be 
staid,  ere  the  genial  nature  of  her  noble  soul  would 
be  frozen  to  its  very  centre.  Continuing,  he  asked, 
"  Do  you  suppose,  Fannie,  that  Maurice  knew  you 
were  a  member  of  the  Koman  Catholic  Church  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know,  sir.  I  have  never  endeavored  to 
keep  the  fact  at  all  a  secret ;  Mr.  Meredith  has  never 


252      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

mentioned  the  subject  to  me,  and  it  is  possible  he  is 
altogether  ignorant  of  the  fact." 

"  My  daughter,  since  these  developments  have 
come  upon  us,  I  would  most  earnestlv  beg  you  to 
.ponder  well  on  the  subject.  Do  not  allow  your  mind 
to  dwell  too  much  on  the  bright  anticipations  which 
you  and  Maurice  have  pictured  for  yourselves.  "Tis 
woman's  heart  that's  strong  in  the  dark  and  melan 
choly  hour — her  sun  of  hope  may  have  set — but  she 
frequently  emerges  from  the  hard  folds  of  grief  a 
better  and  happier  woman.  Prove  yourself,  then, 
equal  to  the  task,  be  worthy  of  your  womanly  nature, 
be  strong,  the  storm  will  break,  and  you  will  once 
more  partake  of  the  fleeting,  transient  pleasures  of 
earth  and  time.  I  am  speaking  to  you  as  if  the  worst 
had  come  to  the  worst.  I  wish  to  prepare  your  mind 
for  whatever  may  be  in  store  for  you.  True,  it  is, 
lovers'  ways  are,  sometimes,  quite  incomprehensible 
and  it  may  be  that  Maurice  and  yourself  will  be  able 
to  reconcile  your  antagonistic  sentiments  and  opin 
ions.  How  you  are  to  do  this,  I  confess  I  do  not 
understand.  When  you  see  him,  have  a  free,  candid, 
open  explanation — then  take  your  coarse. 

"  Father,  dear  father,  let  us  not  continue  this  sub 
ject  now,  at  another  time " 

He  nodded  his  assent ;  the  suffering  girl  left — went 
to  her  room,  and  there  the  first  tears  of  genuine 
sorrow  coursed  down  her  cheeks. 

Who  is  it  that  has  felt  the  first  tears  of  genuine 
sorrow,  that  does  not  remember  the  burning  sting 
they  left  behind  ?  These  first  tears  constitute  an  era 
in  the  life  of  man,  from  which,  when  in  old  age,  he 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN    VIRGINIA.      253 

looks  back  on  his  life,  and  begins  to  count  his  trials 
and  his  sorrows  ;  that  first  dark  shadow  which  hung 
the  drapery  of  sadness  around  his  heart,  and  he  is 
disposed  to  regard  it  as  the  progenitor  of  all  his  sub 
sequent  sorrows. 

In  solitude,  Fannie  gave  vent  to  her  grief.  What 
a  change  had  come  over  her  feelings.  In  the  morn 
ing  happy — thinking  of  Maurice  as  her  lover,  of  the 
happy  day  when  he  would  return  from  the  country, 
and  come  to  talk  with  her ;  but,  ere  the  day  has  fled, 
she  learns  that  an  obstacle  raises  its  frowning  visage 
between  them,  threatening  to  frighten  the  little  bul 
of  promise  from  its  nestling  place  around  her  heartf. 

She  sits  in  the  calm  shadow  of  twilight,  and  medi 
tates.  She  calls  up  many  reminiscences  of  their  past 
acquaintance,  but  instead  of  bringing  pleasure,  each 
one  is  armed  with  a  burning  sting.  She  sat  a  long, 
long  time,  and  before  she  arose,  her  resolution  was 
taken.  "  The  world  shall  never  know  my  sorrow 
ings.  I  scorn  its  pity ;  nor  shall  it  laugh  at  my 
calamity.  Within  the  portals  of  my  own  bosom  will 
I  keep  the  secret — I  will  go  on,  and  on,  through  the 
world,  and  none  will  suspect  me  of  having  known  an 
early  attachment.  I  shall  laugh  when  I  will — be  gay 
at  times,  and  when  I  sorrow,  none  shall  know  it. 
But  may  not  all  this  be  premature  ?  he  shall  not  be 
cast  off  without  a  hearing ;  I  will  take  my  father's 
advice,  and  talk  with  Maurice  on  the  subject.  She 
then  arose  from  her  retirement,  to  join  the  family, 
and  to  all  appearances,  was  as  gay  as  ever.  Thus, 
in  a  measure,  quieting  the  fears  of  her  parents. 
Several  days  past  away,  and  Fannie  still  retained 

22 


254       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

her  usual  flow  of  spirits,  at  least,  she  did  this  in  com 
pany,  and  her  father  was  beginning  to  think  he  had 
given  himself  unnecessary  anxiety  on  her  account. 
Bat  ah !  when  alone,  when  no  human  eye  could  see 
her,  then  she  was  under  no  studied  restraint.  She 
now  had  two  lives,  one  for  the  eyes  of  others,  this 
was  her  life  to  seem ;  the  other  was  for  solitude,  this 
was  her  life  to  be ;  and  her  life  to  be,  was  to  be 
wretched. 

Maurice  did  not  remain  long  out  of  town;  on  the 
evening  of  his  arrival  he  called  to  see  Fannie.  She 
met  him  cordially,  but  still  he  thought  there  was 
more  reserve  in  her  manner  than  she  had  been 
accustomed  of  late  to  show  towards  him. 

He  made  some  jocular  remark  in  regard  to  her 
unusual  display  of  dignity.  But  Fannie,  apparently 
not  hearing  his  observation,  said : — 

"  Your  newly  acquired  fame  has  preceded  you,  for, 
I  have  read  a  very  complimentary  account  of  your 
late  political  harangue  before  the  people,  besides,  my 
father  was  present  at  the  discussion;  I  suppose  you 
saw  him?" 

"  No,  I  did  not  see  your  father,  but  if  he  reports 
as  favorably  of  my  speech  as  the  account  you  saw, 
then  I  shall  get  a  vote  I  did  not  expect,  as  he  is  a 
Democrat ;  but,  may  I  ask,  does  the  old  gentleman's 
daughter  take  any  special  pride  in  my  newly  acquired 
fame?" 

"Alas!  to  be  candid,  she  does  not.  Are  you  aware 
that  /  am  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  ?  I 
being  entirely  ignorant  of  your  political  opinions  up 
to  the  time  I  saw  the  account  of  your  speech,  you 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      255 

possibly  may  be  ignorant  of  my  religious  principles. 
It  might  have  been  better  for  us,  had  we  known 
more  of  each  other  before — " 

"  A  pretty  game  you  are  playing,  Fannie,  indeed ; 
with  a  little  more  practice,  (if  you  will  only  make  a 
public  exhibition  of  it,)  I  may  in  turn  compliment 
you  upon  your  '  newly  acquired  fame '  in  playing  a 
part.  I  suppose  you  have  been  rehearsing  this  little 
play  ever  since  you  heard  of  my  speech,  in  anticipa 
tion  of  my  coming ;  and  did  you  expect  me  to  leave 
the  room,  blubbering  like  a  great  awkward  school 
boy,  at  some  unexpected  treatment  from  his  sweet 
heart?  do  draw  out  the  pocket  handkerchiefs  you 
have  prepared  for  the  occasion.  But  come,  to  be 
serious,  I  have  found  you  out;  so  off  with  your 
assumed  gravity,  and  let's  both  be  natural ;  I  havn't 
long  to  stay  this  evening." 

"I  am  playing  no  part,  sir;  have  spoken  only  the 
truth;  have  assumed  no  gravity.  I  am  a  Koman 
Catholic  in  religion;  you^  in  politics,  an  American, 
and  would  proscribe,  persecute,  yea,  crush  that  Church 
even  out  of  existence,  were  it  possible.  Can  you 
now  construct  the  bridge  to  span  the  broad  gulf  that 
divides  us?  Look;  here  I  stand,  and  according  to 
the  dictates  of  my  own  conscience,  I  seek  salvation ; 
there  you  stand,  sworn  to  war  against  me,  and  all 
those  who,  in  religious  matters,  think  and  act  with 
me." 

"  This  bridge,  I  should  suppose,"  said  Maurice,  "  is 
very  easily  constructed.  I  have  but  to  go  with  a  fee 
to  one  of  your  priests,  who  will  grant  me  absolution 
from  the  crying  sin  you  have  so  eloquently  convicted 


256       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IX   VIRGINIA. 

me  of.  I  still  persist  that  you  are  jesting — you  a  Ca~ 
tholic!" — repeating  the  last  words  with  a  visible  sneer. 

"/am,"  said  Fannie,  proudly,  the  warm  blood  mount 
ing  to  her  cheeks,  "and  your  imputation  against  the 
priest — your  taunt  at  me  is  unworthy  of  you." 

Maurice  was  now  convinced ;  and  with  the  con 
vincing  proof  came  the  full  realization  of  the  un 
happy  development  and  its  ultimate  consequences  to 
his  peace  of  mind. 

"I  have  deeply  wounded  you,  Fannie,  and  the 
spirit  with  which  you  met  my  unintentional  insult 
does  credit  to  your  nature,  for  I  admire  above  all 
things,  the  right  kind  of  spirit  in  a  woman.  But, 
Fannie,  let  us  now  call  upon  the  spirit  of  love  to 
hover  around  us  while  we  set  our  heads  to  work,  and 
see  if  we  can't  settle  most  amicably  and  satisfactorily 
this  ugly  difficulty,  so  frightening  to  us  both.  The 
simple  fact,  that  I  am  a  member  of  the  American 
organization  is,  you  would  say,  prima  facie  evidence 
that  I  am  not  very  favorably  disposed  towards  your 
Church." 

"  But  I  would  take,"  joined  in  Fannie,  "  your  re 
marks,  as  quoted  by  my  father,  as  positive  evidence 
that  you  are  decidedly  hostile  to  my  Church." 

"  Granted,"  continued  Maurice,  "  but  as  I  was  going 
on  to  say,  my  opposition  to  that  Church,  as  a  Church, 
does  not  preclude  me  from  entertaining  for  indi 
vidual  members  the  most  exalted  respect.  I  do  not 
say  there  are  not  individual  examples  in  that  Church 
shedding  the  most  beautiful  light  of  Christian  piety. 
I  war  upon  the  Church,  not  upon  individuals." 

"  He  who  touches  my  Church,  Mr.  Meredith,  touch- 


LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF   SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       257 

eth  that  which  nearly  concerneth  me ;  and  in  selecting 
these  individual  examples,  you  are  casting  an  unwar 
ranted  reproach  upon  the  Church,  and  declaring  that 
such  is  their  natural  purity  of  character,  that  they 
cannot  be  corrupted  by  the  Church.  If,  in  the  appli 
cation  of  your  remark,  you  intended  to  select  me  as 
one  of  these  bright  examples  of  natural  piety,  then  I 
must  say  you  are  robbing  the  Church  to  flatter  the 

i/     */  •  c_J 

individual." 

This  reply  caused  Maurice  to  change  the  basis  of 
negotiation  which  he  had  marked  out  in  his  mind. 
After  a  pause  he  began  again,  as  follows : 

"You  object,  Fannie,  to  my  political  opinions, 
because  those  opinions  lead  me  to  declare  against 
your  Church.  I  am  honest  in  these  opinions.  My 
party  friends  have  honored  me  with  a  nomination  for 
Congress.  Therefore,  however  disposed  I  may  be  to 
accommodate  myself  to  circumstances,  and  withdraw 
from  the  organization,  for  the  purpose  of  retaining 
your  confidence,  respect — yea,  love — I  could  not  do 
so  without  a  breach  of  all  the  rules  of  honor  and 
good  faith  by  which  I  am  bound  to  my  party." 

"  I  would  not  have  you  sacrifice  your  political  aspi 
rations  for  me,"  said  Fannie. 

"  How  then  can  I  ask  you,  Fannie,  to  sacrifice  your 
Church  for  me  ?  for,  in  the  simplicity  of  my  untutored 
mind  in  regard  to  Church  attachment,  I  was  about  to 
appeal  to  you  to  withdraw  from  the  Eoman  Catholic 
Church,  and  unite  with  some  other,  if  you  .chose ; 
supposing  the  pleasantest  road  to  the  future  land  was 
hardly  the  one  which  runs  through  purgatory." 

"  If  you  expect,  sir,  to  win  me  over  to  the  sacrifice 
22* 


258       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 

you  would  ask  of  me,  then  surely  you  are  wide  of 
your  aim,  when  you  are  resorting  to  ridicule.  Cast 
another  such  reflection  upon  my  Church,  and  I  shall 
consider  it  time  to  end  this  interview.  As  to  the 
question  of  withdrawal,  let  us  settle  it  now,  once  for 
all.  To  do  so,  I  never,  never  will  consent,  for  no 
earthly  consideration.  I  might  sacrifice  wealth,  all 
my  worldly  possessions,  fame — yea,  everything,  save 
the  privilege  of  worshipping  at  the  throne  of  Grace 
as  I  will." 

"  I  suppose  then,"  said  Maurice,  "  I  must  come  with 
some  other  basis  of  negotiation,  before  you  will  be 
willing  to  treat  with  me ;  so  let  us  now  sign  a  truce 
to  this  controversy  till  we  meet  again.  Let  us  not 
break  lightly  the  happy  relations  we  sustain  to  each 
other ;  for  believe  me,  could  I  but  harken  to  love's 
sweet  voice,  and  do  its  bidding,  I  would  freely 
renounce  all  worldly  honors,  and  cling  only  to  Fannie. 
Our  minds,  just  at  this  time,  are  not  in  the  proper 
mood  to  talk  over  this  matter.  I  will  see  you  again 
soon."  And  so  saying,  left  the  house. 

Maurice  left  in  a  gloomy  state  of  mind ;  but  he  left 
not  without  a  little  ray  of  hope.  From  whence  came 
that  dear  little  ray,  glancing  along  through  the  thick 
and  dark  shadows  of  forebodings  ?  Ah  I  it  comes 
from  that  ideal  picture,  which  he  had  cherished  long 
years  before  he  met  with  Fannie.  He  had  always 
regarded  it  as  one  of  fancy's  dainty  treats  to  his  long 
ing  soul,  and  he  had  so  encouraged  the  idea  that  its 
counterpart  in  nature  would  be  his  wife,  that  fancy 
and  reality  had  swapped  places;  and  to  think  now 


LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       259 

that  she  would  not  be  his  wife,  was  only  one  of  fancy's 
little  wiles. 

He  mingled  the  -next  day  with  his  political  friends ; 
every  one  of  them  sang  songs  of  victory  in  his  ears, 
and  encouraged  him  on  to  the  political  struggle. 
That  evening  found  him  again  at  Mr.  Bell's  house. 
But  he  went  there  having  too  much  to  ask  of  Fannie, 
lie  intended  to  insist  that  she  was  the  proper  person 
to  remove  the  difficulty,  by  withdrawing  from  the 
Eoman  Catholic  Church.  That  apart  from  his  obli 
gation  to  his  party,  it  would  be  considered  unmanly 
in  him,  by  the  world,  now  becoming  a  stern,  weather- 
beaten  politician,  to  harken  to  the  sentimental  feelings 
of  the  pliant  school-boy,  and  be  moulded  to  his  sweet 
heart's  will.  He  went  there,  not  prepared  to  offer  any 
new  basis  of  negotiation,  but  to  insist  on  the  same 
propositions  they  had  before  discussed ;  and  he  calcu 
lated  much  on  Fannie's  love  being  a  faithful  ally  in 
the  settlement.  But  he  did  not  see  Fannie ;  the  ser 
vant,  who  presented  her  apologies,  handed  him  the 
following  note : 

"MR.  MEREDITH: 

"  Having  reflected  duly  on  the  subject  of  our  last 
evening's  conversation,  I  cannot  think  it  possible, 
that  another  interview  would  be  productive  of  any 
thing  more  satisfactory.  Therefore,  to  avoid  a  meet 
ing  which  could  only  be  disagreeable,  I  have  pre 
pared  this  letter,  in  anticipation  of  your  coming. 

"  In  so  important  a  matter  as  marriage,  there  should 
be  a  fitness,  a  congeniality  of  sentiment,  between 
the  contracting  parties. 


260       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

"  I  have  asked  myself  these  questions : 

"  Must  I  marry  the  man,  who  has  kissed  the  lids 
of  the  Holy  Bible,  and  uttered  the  vow  to  war 
against  my  Church  ? 

"  Must  I  marry  the  man,  who  would  rob  me  of  my 
conscience,  and  dictate  to  me  the  terms,  upon  which 
I  am  to  base  my  hopes  of -salvation? 

"Must  I  marry  the  man,  who  in  this  happy  land 
of  liberty,  would  rob  me  of  a  right,  which  God  im 
planted  in  my  bosom — the  right  to  serve  Him  as  the 
teachings  of  my  conscience  would  dictate  ? 

"Must  I  marry  the  man,  who  raises  his  voice 
against  the  benevolent  and  charitable  invitation  of 
our  laws,  to  the  world's  oppressed,  to  flock  to  free 
dom's  home  ? 

"  Must  I  marry  the  man,  who  has  prescribed  the 
bounds,  for  humanity's  kind  offices,  to  American  soil ; 
who  can  listen  to  no  tale  of  suffering,  or  of  misery,  if 
the  relator  of  his  woes  but  breathe  them  with  a 
foreign  accent  ? 

"  Must  I  marry  the  man,  whose  political  opinions 
would  lead  him  to  no  higher  aim  than  the  proscrip 
tion  of  foreigners  and  Catholics  ? 

"  Must  I  marry  the  man,  who  could  ask  of  me, 
that  I  should  abnegate  my  religious  faith,  in  order 
that  he  might  adhere  to  his  political  faith ;  thus  ask 
ing,  that  the  holy  charm  of  religion  should  yield  to 
the  politician's  worldly  aspirations. 

"I  must  say  to  you,  that  the  invariable  answer  to 
all  these  questions  has  been,  '  no' — and  in  obedience 
to  this  response,  I  have  now  to  sever  our  engage 
ment — it  is  done.  It  would  be  affectation  in  me  now 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       261 

to  say,  that  I  did  not  admire  your  manly,  noble 
traits  of  character.  The  contemplation  of  these  drew 
me  towards  you ;  we  communed  pleasantly  together, 
and  I  promised  to  marry  you — in  this  I  was  sincere. 
I  saw  no  spot,  or  blemish  upon  your  character;  but, 
alas !  I  see  it  now — the  link  is  broken — you  are 
released. 

"  Let  us  only  think  of  the  pleasant  hours  we  have 
spent  together,  as  so  many  little  finger-boards,  in 
life's  fitful  journey,  reminding  us  that  life's  dearest 
hopes  may  crumble ;  but  pointing  to  a  happier  land, 
bid  us  fix  our  affections  there.  You  are  a  man,  go 
mingle  with  the  world,  and  in  its  excitement  forget 
your  love.  I  am  a  woman,  and  'tis  in  this  dark  and 
cheerless  hour,  that  the  Church  you  so  much  abuse, 
is  my  only  comforter.  O,  noble  Church !  now  do  I 
prostrate  myself  upon  they  bosom,  and  view  from 
afar  off,  that  beautiful  dawn  of  holy  light,  which 
thou  dost  promise  to  all  those  who  follow  thy  com 
mands  in  righteousness !  How  bounteous  hast  thou 
been  in  preparations  for  all  thy  daughters,  who  are 
weary  of  time's  gaudy  bubbles !  The  serene  solitude 
of  the  cloister  beckons  the  weary  pilgrim  of  time  to 
its  sacred  shades.  Thy  brave  and  generous  sister 
hood,  always  ready  to  go  wherever  the  cry  of  suffer 
ing  is  heard  ;  always  ready  to  peril  life  in  the  face  of 
disease,  to  offer  succor  to  the  sick  and  dying:  and 
should  I  weary  of  the  vanities  of  life,  thou,  blessed 
Church,  hast  a  place  prepared  for  me. 

"I  beg,  Mr.  Meredith,  that  you  will  excuse  this 
outburst  of  feeling — 'tis  the  last  you  will  ever  hear 
from  "  FANNIE." 


262       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

Maurice  did  not  open  the  letter  till  he  reached 
home,  and  there  he  read  it  with  an  aching  heart.  He 
now  thought  of  the  words,  "fix  not  your  affections 
upon  that  girl,  for  you  may  repent  it,"  which  Mr.  Fox 
had  said  to  him ;  and  now  for  the  first  time  he  under 
stood  the  significance  of  the  words,  "  let  her  alone." 
And  now  too,  his  dream  which  so  much  troubled 
him,  in  which  Fannie  represented  Justice,  came  fully 
before  his  mind.  He  felt,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life, 
that  he  was  a  doomed  man,  his  hope  for  Fannie  had 
fled  from  his  heart,  and  in  its  flight  too,  borne  away 
his  little  ideal  picture,  which  he  had  so  long  caressed 
in  fancy's  happy  view. 

"  I  bid  adieu  to  love,  and  hie  away  for  fame ;  fare 
well,  Fannie ;  farewell,  bright  and  beautiful  girl.  I 
shall  often  think  of  thee  in  sadness.  Thou  wert  a 
ray  of  sunshine  to  my  path,  for  a  little,  little  while. 
But  now  thou  art  gone  from  my  gaze,  like  a  beautiful 
dream. 

"  As  I  told  her  yesterday,  could  I  but  hearken  to 
love's  sweet  tone,  and  do  its  bidding,  I  would  freely 
renounce  the  prospect  of  all  worldly  honor,  and 
cling  only  to  my  (now  lost)  Fannie :  but  I  am  bound 
to  my  party.  I  have  sworn  to  do  its  bidding — that 
oath  cannot  be  broken.  But,  perhaps — no — yes — 
may  she  not  relent,  and  accept  me  with  all  my  sins 
against  his  Holiness  the  Pope,  and  against  her 
Church.  But  I  will  not  encourage  the  thought — 
come  now  that  little  ideal  picture !  Ah  I  it  comes 
not ;  it  too  has  fled — such  alas !  is  life  1"  and  thus, 
concluding  his  soliloquy,  he  committed  Fannie's  letter 
to  the  flames. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       263 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

How  was  it  that  Maurice  treated  Fannie's  letter  so 
lightly  ?  Is  it  natural  that  a  man  of  an  ardent  tem 
perament  should  meet  with  such  a  disappointment, 
and  then  treat  the  whole  affair  in  a  cool,  stoical  man 
ner,  and  dispose  of  it,  as  if  it  were  but  a  mere  trifling 
circumstance,  met  with  in  the  course  of  everyday 
life?  But  these  were  only  the  feelings  of  the  mo 
ment;  his  pride  was  wounded,  and  he  was  not  ex 
actly  in  a  frame  of  mind  to  realize  fully  his  loss. 

Fannie's  letter  had  been  committed  to  the  flames. 
After  some  hours,  how  he  regretted  that  act !  How 
he  wished  he  had  that  sheet  of  paper  back  upon 
which  she  had  traced  those  lines,  evidently  with  a 
trembling  hand !  True,  the  recollection  of  some  few 
words,  he  was  enabled  to  call  to  mind,  were  beginning 
to  burn  in  upon  his  very  heart ;  true,  the  sentiments 
contained  in  that  letter  were  not  grateful  to  his  feel 
ings;  but  then  he  could  run  over  those  lines  again  in 
grief;  and  he  would  derive  a  melancholy  pleasure 
from  them,  even  though  they  told  him  that  the  "  last 
link  was  broken." 

He  had  for  some  months  past  been  looking  upon 
Fannie  as  the  charmed  goblet-bearer  of  his  hopes  and 
anticipations.  This  goblet  was  full  of  bright  and 
beautiful  dreams ;  and  on  the  many  occasions  when, 
with  unaffected  simplicity,  she  had  spoken  the  feelings 
of  her  heart,  in  remarks  full  of  confidence  in  him,  he 


264:       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

was  not  disposed  to  grumble  with  his  lot,  but  thanked 
Heaven  that  "things  were  as  they  were."  Alas! 
though  he  could  not  see  what  gates  the  key  which 
the  Know  Nothings  placed  in  his  hands  would  un 
lock  ;  they  pointed  to  fame  and  immortality,  and  told 
him  the  key  was  for  the  gates  thereof.  He  conse 
quently  went  down  with  them  into  darkness.  He 
hurled  his  denunciations  with  high  hand  against  those 
he  was  sworn  to  crush;  one  of  these  bolts  which  he 
had  forged  in  his  place  of  covert  darkness,  and  which 
he  hurled  forth  with  the  hope  of  carrying  devastation 
in  its  train,  had  struck  the  hand  that  was  holding  the 
goblet  to  his  lips — the  hand  was  palsied  by  the 
stroke,  and  it  could  never  again  return  the  warm 
pressure  of  love  to  the  hand  that  hurled  the  shaft. 
The  goblet,  too,  was  shattered,  and  all  the  bright 
dreams  it  held  were  drunk  up  by  the  black  drapery 
which  despair  had  hung  around  the  burial-place  of 
hope. 

The  more  he  pondered  over  the  subject  the  more 
he  was  oppressed  and  dispirited.  Where  now  was 
he  to  go  for  consolation  ?  Where  could  he  find  the 
Lethean  draught  to  cause  forgetfulness  of  the  past  ? 
Could  he  mingle  in  the  political  furor  of  the  day,  and 
forget  his  love  in  the  shouts  and  hurrahs  of  those 
who  would  advance  him  in  the  world  of  fame? 
What  though  he  was  successful  in  his  aspirations  for 
a  seat  in  Congress?  Would  all  its  honors  fill  the 
aching  void  of  his  heart,  now  mourning  the  loss  of 
that  which  for  some  time  past  had  held  its  seat  there, 
ministering  to  that  voice  which  says  to  man,  "  It  is  not 
good  that  thou  should'st  be  alone  ?" 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       265 

However  intellectual  a  man  may  be,  however  gigan 
tic  his  mind,  he  is  not  at  all  exempt  from  that  desire 
implanted  within  him  by  the  hand  of  Providence,  to 
seek  a  partner  for  his  life  from  among  those  who  are 
rightly  termed  the  fairest  portion  of  created  hu 
manity. 

There  are  those  who  contend  that  it  argues  a  weak 
ness  of  mind  for  a  man  to  yield  to  the  tenderer 
passions  of  his  nature,  and  lament  the  failure  of  his 
suit  for  woman's  heart  and  hand;  but  the  voice 
which  utters  such  a  sentiment  is  only  the  snarl  of  the 
morose  cynic,  who  has  built  up  an  unnatural  philoso 
phy  for  himself,  and  is  ashamed,  in  the  gigantic  pro 
portions  of  his  mental  faculties,  to  acknowledge  the 
potency  of  the  feelings  of  the  heart. 

Maurice  was  far  from  being  one  of  those  surly  mis 
anthropes.  He  was  of  an  ardent  temperament,  of 
strong  passions  and  prejudices ;  and  he  felt  not 
ashamed  to  mourn  the  loss  of  so  rich  a  prize  as  he 
esteemed  Fannie. 

And  now  it  was,  after  he  had  calmly  reflected  on 
the  subject,  that  the  war  began  within  him. 

Now  it  was  that  two  of  the  strongest  passions  in 
the  breast  of  man,  love  and  ambition,  had  arrayed 
themselves  for  a  conflict,  that  could  only  result  in 
the  complete  annihilation  of  the  one  or  the  other. 
Love  had  much  arrayed  on  its  side;  Ambition  much 
on  its.  Love  spoke  first,  and  said,  banish  me  not 
from  my  courts  in  thy  heart,  lest  you  rue  the  day. 
Look  not  upon  me  as  unworthy  of  thy  notice.  True, 
unlike  my  adversary,  I  cannot  lead  you  along  the 
royal  road  to  fame,  I  cannot  deck  your  brow  with 

23 


266       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

glory's  chaplets.  Mine  is  an  humbler  sphere,  un 
ostentatious  I  am,  but  then  I  go  with  thee  where'er 
thou  goest.  Your  home  is  the  place  where  I  deliglit 
to  dwell,  and  there  will  I  remain  with  you.  I  will 
be  your  constant  friend,  and  in  the  little  ordinary 
things,  which  make  up  the  sum  and  substance  of 
life's  bitter  part,  I  will  be  thy  best  comforter.  Look ! 
What  is  man,  unless  he  permits  me  to  reign  in  his 
heart?  Is  he  not  surly  and  morose?  Does  he  not 
often  live  uncared  for,  and  pass  away  unlamented? 
I  it  is  who  will  go  with  thee  in  pleasant  places.  I 
it  is  who  will  lead  thee  along  pleasant  paths.  I  it  is 
who,  from  my  bounteous  store  of  little  joys,  will  deal 
these  out  to  thee,  nor  will  that  store  be  emptied  by 
the  constant  demand  you  may  make  upon  it;  keep 
but  the  fountain  pure,  and  the  stream  that  fills  this 
store  is  as  exhaustless  as  the  sea.  Banish  me  if  you 
will,  and  you  will  find  in  the  sere-leaf  of  your 
autumn  years,  that  you  have  despised  your  best  and 
surest  comforter. 

Ambition  next  spoke.  I  was  implanted  in  your 
breast  to  raise  you  above  the  common  rabble,  or  the 
brute  creation.  I  point  you  to  the  pinnacle  where 
sit  the  great  of  earth.  The  world  would  never  have 
known  a  statesman,  a  hero,  or  a  conqueror,  had  I  not 
reigned  in  his  heart,  and  ne'er  deserted  him  till  he 
reached  the  crowning  glory  of  a  mighty  deed.  I 
elevate  you  above  the  common  walks  of  man ;  above 
the  pinings  of  the  sentimental  school  boy.  Go  with 
me  to  where  nations  meet,  in  serried  ranks,  upon 
the  tented  field  ;  I  hover  around  their  colors,  I 
glisten  on  the  white  steel's  shining  face;  my  voice 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      267 

is  heard  in  tho  cannon's  roar.  Look  to  the  thrones 
of  earth,  where  sit  the  kings ;  I  decked  these  thrones 
with  purple  and  with  gold.  Look  to  the  crown ;  I 
placed  the  diamond  there ;  and  could  you  read  the 
hearts  of  those  who  wear  the  crowns,  you  would  find 
me  even  there.  Look  to  senate  halls,  where  the 
great  men  of  nations  meet,  and  you  will  find  these 
men  do  not  despise  me.  Look  last  to  yourself,  and 
would  you  retrace  the  steps  you  have  taken  with 
such  nattering  prospects  of  success  on  the  road  to 
popular  favor.  One  step  backward,  even  a  pause, 
would  now  be  fatal.  Look  ahead,  and  faint  not,  I 
will  be  with  you. 

Listen  but  to  the  delirious  wrooings  of  my  rival, 
who  is  now  treating  you  to  anticipation's  golden 
views,  and  you  will  find,  when  anticipation  ripens 
into  reality,  that  distance  lent  enchantment  to  the 
view. 

Is  the  applause  of  men  grateful  to  your  ear  ?  Does 
the  warm  breath  with  which  fame  speaks  of  heroes 
and  of  statesmen  animate  your  bosom?  Are  you 
emulous  to  compete  for  the  honors  which  will  surely 
fall  upon  some,  during  your  day  and  generation? 
Then  you  must  harken  only  to  my  voice,  and  listen 
not  to  love's  entreaties.  Love  is  seldom  my  rival, 
we  frequently  dwell  together  in  the  same  heart ;  there 
are,  then,  no  better  friends,  and  we  frequently  join 
our  incentives  in  elevating  the  man ;  but,  unfortu 
nately,  for  you,  Maurice  Meredith,  we  are  arrayed 
in  hostility  to  each  other,  and  you  must  decide 
whether  you  will  listen  to  the  voice  of  love  or  the 
voice  of  ambition,  and  that  right  speedily. 


2G8      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 

How  fiercely  rages  now  the  war  in  Maurice  Mere 
dith's  breast,  between  love  and  ambition. 

Both  have  addressed  him.  Love  has  told  its  little 
tale  of  simple  joys,  and  asked  that,  like  the  dews  of 
heaven  to  the  thirsting  plant,  withering  on  some 
sterile  waste,  it  may  be  permitted  to  hover  around 
him,  and  now  and  then  refresh  his  inmost  soul. 

Pompous  ambition,  boasting  of  its  intimacy  with 
the  kings  of  earth,  and  the  part  it  has  played  in  all 
the  great  and  glorious  deeds  of  time,  held  out  its 
alluring  gifts  before  his  eyes,  and  promised  that 
those  gifts  should  be  his,  provided  he  decided  against 
his  rival. 

What  was  Maurice  to  do  ?  This  was  the  per 
plexing  question.  Should  he  choose  for  his  part, 
love  or  ambition  ?  "When  he  thought  of  Fannie,  he 
was  almost  on  the  point  of  saying,  farewell  ambition, 
farewell  honors,  farewell  all  ye  intoxicating  dreams 
of  fame,  I  will  yield  to  love's  voice,  go  to  Fannie, 
ask  forgiveness,  and  sin  no  more ;  I  know  she  will 
take  the  repentant  wanderer  back.  But  ere  the 
thought  could  ripen  into  a  firm  resolve,  there  came, 
as  it  were,  the  voice  of  the  multitude,  sounding  his 
praises  and  his  name ;  he  saw  fame  and  immortality 
towering  far  above  the  simple  offices  of  love.  The 
decision  was  made — he  chose  ambition.  But  he 
determined,  if  possible,  to  reconcile  the  two  opposing 
passions,  by  seeking  one  more  interview  with  Fannie, 
and  conjure  her  to  remove  the  obstacle  in  their  way. 
If,  however,  she  persistently  refused,  then  to  bid  that 
final  adieu  to  her,  which  love  so  imploringly  warned 
him  against. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       269 

Maurice,  as  the  reader  is  aware,  had,  on  a  former 
occasion,  failed  in  obtaining  an  interview  with  Fannie. 
He  therefore  concluded,  that  before  he  would  venture 
to  make  another  call,  he  would  write  her  a  note,  and 
inquire  whether  or  not  it  would  be  agreeable  to  her 
for  him  to  do  so.  The  note  was  despatched ;  Fannie's 
reply  was  not  repulsive.  She  probably  thought  that 
he  had  seen  the  great  error  he  was  in,  and  would 
come  prepared  to  make  all  due  concessions.  But,  she 
was  not  satisfied  in  her  own  mind,  that  should  he 
even  do  this,  that  she  would  be  justified  in  agreeing 
to  a  re-establishment  of  the  relations  as  they  formerly 
existed  between  them.  Their  engagement  had  been 
broken  off  by  herself,  in  obedience  to  what  she  con 
sidered  to  be  her  duty.  Should  that  engagement  be 
renewed?  that  was  the  question.  She  determined  to 
be  governed  by  future  developments.  If  he  came 
with  the  proper  spirit,  prepared  to  make  a  full  renun 
ciation  of  the  opinions  he  had  advanced  against  her 
Church,  and  if  this  renunciation  was  brought  about 
by  the  conviction  that  he  was  in  error,  and  not  a 
mere  device  to  entrap  her,  then  she  would  take  the 
matter  under  serious  reflection,  and  try  to  forget  the 
difficulty  which  had  so  perplexed  her. 

In  truth,  she  began  again  almost  to  think  of  Mau 
rice  as  a  lover,  and  found  herself  almost,  at  times, 
hoping  that  a  reconciliation  would  be  effected;  but 
she  dared  not  indulge  the  thought  too  far,  the  matter 
was  not  yet  settled — she  did  not  know  what  the  result 
would  be,  though  the  terms  of  that  reconciliation  were 
fixed;  she  had  stated  them  to  him  when  she  saw  him ; 
they  were  not  to  be  departed  from.  Will  he  come 
23* 


270       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

prepared  to  accept  these  terms?  And  such  reflections 
as  these  were  passing  through  the  proud  girl's  mind 
from  the  time  she  received  his  note  till  he  called. 

The  evening  after  Maurice  wrote  to  Fannie,  he 
went  to  see  her.  It  was  an  embarrassing  meeting  to 
both ;  Fannie  did  not  know  how  to  receive  him,  nor 
he  exactly  what  humor  to  adopt.  They  both  felt  the 
extreme  awkwardness  of  the  meeting.  They  felt  as 
if  a  third  person  would  take  away  the  solitariness  of 
the  occasion;  and  just  at  this  time,  a  bright-faced, 
prattling  little  girl  (one  of  Fannie's  sisters)  of  some 
four  or  five  summers,  came  bouncing  into  the  room, 
as  if  she  were  sent  by  some  mysterious  power,  a 
messenger  of  relief  to  Maurice  and  Fannie.  The 
child's  presence  had  the  desired  effect,  and  they  were 
beginning  to  feel  at  ease,  when  the  unconscious  little 
innocent  begged  her  sister  "to  hear  her  say  the 
prayer  she  had  taught  her ;"  and  before  Fannie  could 
say,  wait  till  another  time,  the  little  thing  was  down 
upon  her  knees,  and  with  its  head  buried  in  Fannie's 
lap,  was  lisping  the  prayer  which  Fannie,  the  Eoman 
Catholic  girl,  had  taught  her.  The  prayer  was  just 
such  a  one  as  any  pious  Protestant  would  teach  his 
child ;  Fannie  respected  her  father's  religion,  and  she 
would  scorn  to  mould  his  young  child's  mind  to  her 
her  own  way  of  thinking.  This  circumstance,  at 
another  time,  would  have  been  regarded  as  trivial, 
but  now,  it  strangely  effected  Maurice.  It  brought 
fully  before  his  mind  the  unfortunate  difficulty 
between  Fannie  and  himself — her  Romanism,  his 
Americanism.  After  a  few  minutes,  the  nurse  cap 
tured  the  little  wanderer  from  her  care,  and  took  it 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       271 

back  to  the  privacy  of  the  nursery  walls.  Maurice 
and  Fannie  were  again  left  alone. 

Maurice  now  referred  to  their  difficulty,  "  and 
came,"  he  said,  "  with  the  hope  that  it  could  be  re 
conciled,  and  then  they  would  go  on  as  smoothly  as 
if  nothing  had  happened  to  throw  them  out  of  the 
current  which,  for  so  long  a  time,  had  borne  them 
along  together  without  a  ripple  on  its  smiling  sur 
face." 

"I  would  ask  you  to  state,"  said  Fannie,  "the 
grounds  upon  which  you  expect  an  adjustment." 

"  Were  I  in  a  condition,  Fannie,  to  let  the  voice  of 
love  lay  the  basis,  there  would  be  no  doubt  of  your 
acceptance.  But  the  same  impediment  is  in  the  way 
as  when  you  last  saw  me.  Would  you  have  me  vio 
late  an  oath  I  have  made  to  my  party  ?  I  came  to  you 
to  ask  you,  yea,  to  implore  you,  to  remove  the  dif 
ficulty  as  I  suggested  in  our  last  interview.  Do  you 
not  appreciate  my  situation?  Do  you  not  see  that  I 
am  bound  to  my  party?  that  I  cannot  break  the 
bonds  unless  I  break  an  oath,  and  be  guilty  of 
treachery.  Speak,  Fannie!  and  say  you  will  take 
me,  with  all  my  short  comings  and  political  errors? 
Why,  love  and  politics  should  be  kept  as  distinct  as 
the  Church  from  the  State." 

"  Am  I  to  understand,  then,  Mr.  Meredith,  that  you 
have  no  other  terms  to  offer?  If  so,  you  already 
have  my  decision.  No  argument,  no  appeal  to  my 
sympathies,  would  cause  me  to  change  that  decision. 
Therefore  I  beg  that  you  will  change  the  subject ;  'tis 
idle  to  pursue  it  further." 

"'Tis  idle,  did  you  say?" 


272       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Must  all — end  here  ?  Must  we  never  think  again 
of  each  other  ?" 

"  Yes,  think ;  but  to  regret  that  we  ever  met" — 

"  Then  the  sad  farewell  must  now — O,  awful  word ! 
— be  spoken.  I  utter  it,  and  it  bears  me  hence  from 
Fannie.  And  now,  one  last  request.  Teach  that 
little  angel-innocent,  who  but  a  while  ago  prayed  so 
touchingly,  bowed  upon  thy  lap,  to  pray  for  me.  I 
am  hardly  able  to  bear  up  against  this  sad  wreck  of 
all  my  hopes." 

She  took  the  hand  extended  to  her;  and  thus 
ended  the  last  interview  between  Maurice  Meredith 
and  Fannie  Bell. 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       273 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  election  day  is  now  not  far  distant.  That 
day  will  be  an  important  one  to  Virginia.  That  day 
will  decide  whether  Virginians  will  stand  by  the 
vows  their  fathers  made  to  religious  liberty,  when 
they  declared  that  no  man  should  be  proscribed  on 
account  of  his  religious  opinions;  or  whether,  with 
sacrilegious  voice,  they  are  going  to  break  these 
vows,  and  declare  for  a  Northern  ism. 

That  day  will  decide  whether  Virginia  is  still 
worthy  of  her  name  and  fame,  or  whether  she  has 
sunk  to  the  level  of  some  of  her  fallen  sisters.  That 
day  will  decide  whether  Know  Nothingism  shall 
receive  its  fatal  blow, 'or  whether  it  shall  roll  on  and 
on  in  its  black  evolutions  of  plot  and  counter-plot, 
secrecy,  falsehood,  and  crime,  till  the  whole  southern 
land  is  cursed  with  its  presence,  and  crushed  by  its 
proscription. 

The  great  contest  is  to  come  off  on  that  clay 
between  truth  and  its  sister  virtues,  and  its  opposite, 
with  all  its  attendant  train  of  evils. 

"  Truth  is  mighty,  and  will  prevail." 

The  Democracy  are  buoyed  by  this  inspiring 
thought,  and  it  gives  vigor  to  their  action,  and  hope 
to  their  patriotic  hearts. 

Their  leader,  the  "  fearless  tribune  of  the  people," 
is  still  addressing  the  people ;  and  on  no  occasion  yet 
has  he  raised  his  voice  in  vain.  On  these  public 


274       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN  VIRGINIA. 

occasions,  that  master  orator  drew  oft  and  anon  from 
his  exhaustless  quiver,  arrows  pointed  with  truth, 
which,  with  unerring  aim,  clove  falsehood's  sayings, 
and  carried  conviction  home  to  the  hearts  of  men. 
See  that  man  going — he  goes  his  enemy;  see  him 
now  returning — he  is  his  friend. 

Look  at  another,  as  he  rides  along  with  his  neigh 
bors  to  the  "speaking."  He  is  a  Democrat,  but  is 
not  satisfied  with  the  party  nominations.  Hear  him 
abusing  his  party  for  the  nominations,  and  declaring 
that  he  cannot  and  will  not  support  the  ticket,  to  the 
infinite  satisfaction  of  his  Know  Nothing  neighbor, 
who  intends  to  claim  the  honor  and  glory  of  having 
brought  him  over  to  the  true  faith.  But  see  him  as 
he  returns  home — he  has  heard  and  was  convinced, 
is  now  enthusiastic  for  the  success  of  the  very 
nominee  he  so  much  objected  to. 

Another  goes.  He,  too,  is  a  Democrat,  but  has 
joined  the  oath-bound  Order.  The  deception  which 
has  been  practiced  upon  him  is  laid  bare  to  his  gaze, 
and  he  returns  with  a  thorough  disgust  for  his  de 
ceivers,  and  with  the  determination  to  seek  an  early 
withdrawal  from  the  secret  organization. 

Another  goes  there,  a  full-blooded,  deeply-died 
Federalist,  a  rank  Know  Nothing  Whig.  The  ma 
lignity  of  years  is  festering  in  his  heart ;  it  is  the 
worst  kind  of  party  malignity.  He  carries,  too,  with 
him  a  black  spirit,  that  he  may  cavil,  criticise,  and 
denounce;  but  the  orator  held  up  to  his  view  the 
picture  of  Sam,  as  described  in  the  eighteenth  chap 
ter  ;  held  up  to  his  view  the  absurdities  which  were 
traced  within  the  Blue  Book  of  the  secret  worshippers. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIKGINIA.       275 

The  man  saw  Know  Nothingism  depicted  in  its  most 
glaring  deformities,  and  went  away  a  better  man, 
politically. 

Thus  continued  the  Democratic  leader,  in  his  work 
before  the  people,  from  the  tide-water  flats,  to  the 
rolling  hills  of  Piedmont,  from  Piedmont  to  the  great 
Valley,  and  from  the  Yalley  to  the  wild  (mineral 
imbedded)  mountains  of  Trans-alleghany. 

But  he  did  not  confine  himself  to  discussing  and 
pointing  out  the  dire  evils  of  Know  Nothingism. 
The  subject  of  state  policy  claimed  his  attention  and 
on  this  subject  his  views,  as  expressed,  met  with  the 
warm  approbation  of  the  people.  Being  thoroughly 
aroused  to  a  due  sense  of  state  improvement,  progress 
and  wealth ;  he  vividly  sketched  the  plan  of  progress ; 
and  the  people  saw  that  under  his  system  the  kind 
old  State  would  soon  blossom  as  the  rose.  They 
believed  that  under  his  advice  the  great  lines  of  rail 
way  would  speedily  be  completed,  and  that  Virginia 
would  soon  be  checkered  o'er  with  a  judicious  net 
work  of  railway. 

His  position,  in  regard  to  that  improvement,  whose 
first  rail  will  touch  the  bank,  where  roll  York  river's 
waves.  Whose  last  will  rest  where  Big  Sandy's 
waters  glide,  was  especially  captivating  and  pleasing 
to  the  people.  As  he  descanted  on  the  incalculable 
importance  of  these  several  lines,  connecting  and 
forming  one  grand  continuous  highway,  through  the 
state,  his  auditors  were  carried  some  few  years  in 
advance  of  time,  and  then  they  beheld  the  great  iron 
horse,  being  richly  freighted  at  Big  Sandy's  mouth  ; 
eastward  he  wends  his  course  along  easy  curves  and 


276       LIFK   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

gentle  grades,  through  that  country  blessed  with 
untold  mineral  wealth ;  anon,  he  speeds  his  course 
along  the  jutting  crags  of  New  river,  whose  lofty 
piles  of  stone  seem  like  nature's  fortresses  against 
man's  improvement.  Emerging  thence,  by  and  by 
old  Alleghany  stares  him  in  the  face  ;  but  the  great 
mountain  barrier  bends  to  the  force  of  steam.  The 
Valley  now  is  gained  and  crossed,  and  then  Blue 
Ridge's  height  is  conquered  by  that  crowning  monu 
ment  to  Virginia  enterprize,  the  tunnel,  with'  its 
grade,  from  thence,  onward  he  rushes  with  his  accu 
mulated  treasures  to  a  Virginia  harbor,  where  the 
white  sail  rustles,  ready  to  bear  the  products  of  Vir 
ginia  soil  and  of  Virginia  labor,  to  the  distant  nations 
of  the  earth.  But  the  products  of  Virginia  soil  and 
labor  was  not  all  that  was  to  be  borne  along  the  line. 
The  people  saw  that  it  was  to  become  a  great  national 
highway ;  for  there  stood  Kentucky,  Virginia's  fair 
daughter,  meeting  Virginia  at  the  western  terminus 
of  this  road,  with  one  of  her  roads,  who,  with  filial 
affection,  was  ready  to  pour  the  rich  bounties  of  gen 
erous  nature  into  the  old  mother's  lap.  Nor  would 
the  line  find  a  filial  terminus  in  Kentucky ;  but  be 
taken  up,  and  pressed  onward  to  the  great  western 
world. 

But  while,  as  has  been  said,  his  views  in  relation 
to  this  great  work,  were  probably  pre-eminently  cap 
tivating  to  the  minds  of  the  people ;  yet,  he  by  no 
means,  slighted  any  of  the  lines  that  were  worthy  of 
state  patronage. 

Such  indeed,  was  his  judicious  and  comprehensive 
view  of  state  policy,  in  regard  to  her  improvements, 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       277 

tliat  it  stamped  Mm  as  a  man,  well  qualified  to  fill 
the  first  position  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

And  then  again,  he  not  unfrequently  took,  in  his 
peculiar  style,  the  picture  of  what  Virginia  really 
was,  and  placed  in  contrast  with  this,  what  she  ought 
to  be.  Dependent  now,  she  should  be  raised  to  that 
position  for  which  the  God  of  nature  so  eminently 
qualified  her. 

The  waters  of  her  numerous  streams  were  allowed 
to  mingle  with  the  ocean's  tide,  as  from  primeval 
day,  without  imparting  their  generous  force  to  the 
spindle  or  the  wheel ;  while  yearly,  there  goes  forth 
to  the  northern  States  the  fruits  of  honest  labor; 
which,  in  Virginia's  great  time  journal,  should  be  set 
down  as  huge  credits  to  her  folly. 

He  sometimes  told  of  the  rich  mines  and  minerals, 
now  in  the  bosom  of  the  soil  locked,  with  inaction, 
holding  tight  the  key,  and  hardly  ere  a  gate  to  wealth, 
unlocked;  while  other  States,  less  abundantly  blessed, 
were  busily  using  the  miner's  tools,  and  reaping 
profit,  gain  and  thrift. 

The  people  heard  him,  and  were  satisfied  that  if 
Virginia's  honor  and  interests  were  committed  to  his 
care  for  awhile,  that  that  honor  would  be  sacredly 
guarded  under  his  administration,  that  these  interests, 
while  under  his  kind  supervision,  would  be  carefully 
attended  to. 

He  went  through  the  State — gained  friends  where 
e'er  he  went.  His  course  was  bold,  open,  straight 
forward,  and  peculiarly  Virginian  in  every  feature. 

His  opponent's  course  was  just  the  opposite,  and 
the  people  of  Virginia  would  soon  be  called  upon  to 

24 


278       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

decide  between  the  two.  The  Virginia  Democracy 
looked  to  Virginia  feeling  to  save  the  state.  The 
opposition  placed  hope  upon  the  idea  that  this  Vir 
ginia  feeling  had  yielded  to  the  introduction  of  new 
principles.  And  thus  stood  the  parties  a  short  time 
previous  to  the  election  of  1855.  If  the  spirits  of  the 
dead  can  view  mortal  actions,  and  sympathize  with 
mortal  effort,  then  the  spirits  of  the  departed  patriots 
of  the  country,  may  be  supposed  to  have  hovered 
over  the  actions  of  the  one  party,  and  exercised  the 
guardian  angel's  care  over  its  destinies;  while,  around 
the  other,  the  spirits  of  traitors  stalked,  in  midnight 
darkness,  and  ever  and  anon  whispered  treason  in 
the  ear  of  sin,  and  encouraged  the  actors  on  in  their 
dark  designs. 

A  short  time  previous  to  election  day,  it  became 
apparent  that  Sam,  at  least  in  Virginia,  was  diseased. 
The  copious  hemorrhages,  which  he  was  daily  throw 
ing  off  from  his  secret  lungs,  in  the  shape  of  with 
drawals.  His  great  sufferings  and  profuse  night- 
sweats,  were  symptoms  of  an  awful  malady.  Many 
of  the  old  Whig  doctors,  who  had  not  visited  him  in 
his  secret  writhings  and  contortions,  expressed  it  as 
their  decided  opinion  that  he  showed  unmistakable 
evidences  of  the  galloping  Consumption.  While  all 
of  the  Orthodox  Know  Nothing  school,  who  were 
admitted  into  his  bed-chamber,  down  in  the  culvert's 
damp,  declared  that  his  lungs  were  perfectly  sound, 
and  that  these  hemorrhages  were  but  the  evidence 
of  a  healthy  tone  of  constitution  ;  and  that  in  throw 
ing  off  this  superabundance  of  watery  expectora- 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       279 

tion,  his  lungs  were  but  performing  their  natural 
functions. 

In  addition  to  this,  his  bones  were  said  to  be  ter 
ribly  bruised  and  dislocated,  by  the  ponderous  blows 
he  had  received  from  the  Democracy  generally,  and 
from  their  leader  particularly. 

He  was  also  subject  to  excruciating  suffering  from 
mental  anxiety ;  and  sometimes  general  debility 
seemed  to  prostrate  all  his  energies.  But  it  is  a 
singular  fact,  that  those  who  chiefly  officiated  around 
his  couch  always  wore,  in  public,  the  happiest  coun 
tenances,  and  declared  that  Sarn  was  never  in  a  more 
thriving  condition.  They  would  persistently  deny 
that  he  had  ever  received  a  single  blow  from  the 
Democracy ;  that  he  never  evinced  the  least  mental 
anxiety  or  suffering,  nor  had  they  ever  seen  the  least 
evidence  of  general  debility. 

Though  while  they  endeavored  to  make  this  public 
impression,  they  still  thought  it  necessary  to  hold  a 
grand  consultation  over  Sam's  condition.  This  they 
did,  by  calling  the  chief  men  of  the  Council  together. 
In  what  a  gloomy,  miserable  place  they  have  stretched 
him,  upon  his  bed  of  languishing.  Away  down,  in 
the  deep,  damp,  dark  culvert,  where  dimly  burns  the 
sickly  light  of  the  dark  lantern.  Poor,  pale,  cada 
verous,  grief-stricken  creature,  did'st  thou  expect  to 
find  so  early  a  grave  (as  thy  prospects  now  seem  to 
indicate)  when  thou  wert  induced  to  travel  South  ? 
Look,  how  he  gazes  upon  the  dark,  black  curtains, 
that  hang  in  such  ample  folds  around  his  couch  !  but 
those  black  folds  are  sacred  to  his  eyes,  for  they 


280       LIFE    AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

envelope  his  secrets  and  his  plots.  But  here  comes 
thy  physicians. 

See  them  now  crowding  around  poor  sick  Sam. 
First  comes  little  Mr.  Dobby,  who  brought  him  to 
Virginia;  he  feels  Sam's  pulse,  and  recommends  a 
dose  or  two  of  a  most  abominable  quack  compound 
in  which  there  was  every  conceivable  pernicious  and 
nauseous  drug.  Next  stepped  forward  old  Captain 
Swyburg,  (whose  practice  all  his  life,  previous  to  the 
rise  of  Know  Nothingism,  had  been  according  1<> 
that  followed  by  the  Democratic  School,)  he  looked 
at  Sam's  tongue,  felt  his  pulse,  shook  his  head  know 
ingly,  and  then  declared  that  all  the  patient  wanted 
was  active  exercise,  that  a  few  struggles  with  the  De 
mocracy,  on  public  days,  would  bring  him  all  right 
before  the  election — that  his  friends  in  Virginia  had 
not  bragged  enough  upon  him ;  he  was  in  consequence 
only  a  little  dispirited.  He  therefore  recommended 
shouts,  roars,  and  enthusiastic  demonstrations,  as  the 
course  best  calculated  to  ensure  speedy  convalescence, 
lie  thought  Sam  had  been  too  modest  and  moral  in 
his  habits  and  practices  to  cope  with  the  Virginia 
Democracy.  He  therefore  advised  his  friends  to  try 
and  impress  him  with  a  sense  of  his  real  .worth  and 
merit ;  and  call  upon  him  to  show  a  bold  front  to  the 
Democracy — if  necessary,  should  lay  aside  his  moral 
compunctions  for  a  while,  and  condescend,  to  some  of 
the  low  tricks  resorted  to  by  the  Democracy. 

Mr.  Fox,  that  rank  old  federalist,  who  had  been 
politically  bewildered  all  his  life,  who  had  stood  upon 
divers  platforms,  and  whose  greatest  earthly  hope 
was  to  defeat  the  Democracy,  next  came  in,  felt  Sam's 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       281 

pulse,  prescribed  a  dose  of  verbiage,  peculiarly  anti- 
Democratic,  and  retired,  apparently  well  understand 
ing  the  cause. 

Next  came  in,  that  vilest  of  sinners,  Mr.  Pate,  who 
believed  all  religion  but  the  invention  of  man,  who 
scoffed  at  its  divine  origin,  but  still  feared  the  Eoman 
Catholic  religion  would  annihilate  the  Protestant. 
He  expressed  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  patient's 
malady  was  only  mental,  and  proceeded,  doubtless, 
from  an  over  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  growing  power 
of  the  Romish  church  in  this  country.  lie,  there 
fore,  advised  Sam's  friends  to  encourage  him  in  this 
behalf,  and  assist  with  their  acts  and  sympathies,  in 
his  glorious  work,  in  aid  of  religion. 

Next  came  in  Mr.  Americus  Winks,  whose  life  had 
been,  but  an  exhibition  of  the  most  disgusting  selfish 
ness,  whose  views  were  all  of  a  narrow,  sordid,  con 
tracted  nature,  he  had  no  humanity,  no  charity,  no 
loving  kindness  in  his  heart;  and  whose  greatest 
pleasure  was  to  vent  his  wrath  against  all  in  America, 
who  were  not  born  upon  American  soil.  He  ex 
amined  the  patient,  and  stated  that  all  he  wanted  was 
to  be  encouraged  in  the  work  before  him.  His  great 
desire  was  to  see  America  ruled  by  Americans.  He 
would,  therefore,  call  upon  "sam's"  friends  to  raise 
high  the  great  American  voice  and  "  Sam"  would 
soon  rouse  from  his  despondency,  and  be  fully  strong 
and  equal  to  the  task  of  conquering  the  foreign  party, 
by  the  24th  day  of  May.  Many  others  practised  in 
the  healing  art,  came  forward,  and  rendered  their 
opinions  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  patient. 
Hardly  any  two  of  which  agreed  as  to  the  remedial 

24* 


282      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA. 

agents,  that  ought  to  be  employed.  Nor  could  they 
come  upon  a  compromise,  and  agree  upon  a  course 
of  treatment.  The  grand  consultation,  therefore,  re 
sulted  in  the  determination  that  the  Dobby  party 
should  prescribe  as  they  thought  best.  The  Swyburg 
party,  the  Fox  party,  the  Pate  party,  the  Winks 
party,  and  all  the  sub-parties  should  do  the  same ; 
hoping,  at  least,  that  the  treatment  of  some  of  these 
parties  would  certainly  be  correct,  and  conducive  to 
Sam's  speedy  return  to  convalescence  and  health. 
While  these  men  endeavored  to  conceal  Sam's  real 
condition  from  the  public,  they  still  had  many  fears 
on  his  account,  and  following  out  the  idea  that  des 
perate  cases  require  desperate  remedies,  they  went  to 
the  uttermost  limit  that  desperation  would  allow, 
endeavoring  to  bolster  up  the  poor,  bruised,  beaten, 
mangled,  despised  Yankee  Sam,  whose  character  had 
been  well  ascertained,  and  who,  in  consequence,  was 
now  shunned  by  true  men,  and  contemned  by  all 
Virginia-loving  Virginians.  He  bore  the 'leper's  spot 
upon  him :  patriots  shunned  his  presence. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       283 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

BUT  a  few  days  now  remained  before  the  test  of 
party  strength  will  be  tried  in  Virginia.  The  Know 
Nothing  party  is  preparing  for  the  final  struggle. 
The  Councils  are  holding  their  last  meetings,  and 
issuing  their  commands ;  and  the  orders  they  issue, 
here,  alas !  in  old  Virginia,  are  worthy  to  be  classed 
with  the  orders  issued  by  a  Massachusetts  mob  of  all 
the  isms  of  New  England.  The  general  order  goes 
forth,  that  the  Virginia  Democracy  is  to  be  defeated; 
and  in  addition  to  the  plans  the  Councils  lay  down, 
strictly  to  be  followed  by  all  its  sworn  men,  every 
man  of  the  Order  is  requested  to  work  for  the  party, 
and  use  whatever  falsehoods  and  tricks  he  pleases. 
The  leading  men  every  where  are  instigating  their 
tools,  which  they  selected  from  the  common  mass,  to 
every  kind  of  dishonest  and  disgraceful  expedient. 
Votes,  votes,  votes,  for  Sam;  get  these,  get  these, 
get  them  as  you  please.  The  end  justifies  the  means, 
so  press  on  Sam's  bold  American  column.  The  tools 
obeyed,  and  virtue,  honesty  and  truth  were  trampled 
under  the  ruthless  tread  of  party  malignity.  They 
raised  in  advance  the  shouts  of  victory,  so  soon  to 
dawn  upon  them  in  Virginia;  these  shouts  were 
prolonged  through  all  the  northern  line  of  States, 
but  met  with  no  response  from  the  land  south  of 
Virginia.  The  Know  Nothing  press,  also,  now  in 
creased  in  recklessness,  depravity  and  licentiousness; 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN  VIRGINIA. 

personal  character  was  traduced  most  shamefully. 
The  most  reckless  assertions  and  barefaced  false 
hoods  were  showered  forth  to  minister  to  the  de 
praved  appetite  of  degenerate  Virginians.  The 
damnable  heresies  in  religious,  politicial,  and  sacred 
morals  of  the  northern  hive  of  fanatics,  were  in 
geniously  coated  over  by  the  Pharisaical  editors  of 
that  party,  and  in  Virginia  presented  to  the  people 
as  the  only  true  principles  of  Republicanism.  Yes, 
it  is  a  sad  thought,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that 
the  freedom  of  the  press,  this  great  palladium  to 
American  liberty,  so  far  transcended  all  legitimate 
bounds,  as  to  riot  in  unrestrained  fabrication,  and 
corrupted  and  vitiated  where  it  should  have  exercised 
its  saving  power  for  southern  morals,  manners,  rights 
and  interests.  It  endeavored  to  weaken  where  it 
should  have  offered  strength,  and  the  effects  of  its 
blows  were  felt  at  the  source  from  which  it  derived 
its  freedom.  American  liberty  and  the  constitution 
felt  its  blows.  About  this  time  the  party  had 
counted  noses,  and  discovered  that  they  had  seventy- 
two  thousand  sworn  initiates,  and  thirty  thousand 
sympathizers,  who  would  certainly  sustain  them. 
Many  hallelujahs  were  sung  over  these  numbers; 
many  boastful  and  joyous  predictions  made,  and 
bruited  about,  from  Mr.  Turner's  organ,  down  to  the 
little  village  puppets. 

Had  a  stranger  suddenly  entered  Virginia,  without 
having  the  circumstances  of  the  uproar  explained  to 
him,  he  would  have  supposed  that  the  old  State  had 
been  converted  into  a  general  asylum  for  lunatics, 
and  that  the  bedlamites  of  the  world  were  turned 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IX  VIRGINIA.       285 

loose  within  her  borders,  such  were  the  shouts  and 
yelpings  and  ravings  of  delight  occasioned  by  the 
news  of  this  unwanted  number  of  anti-Democrats  in 
the  State.  How  strange  it  seemed  to  Democratic 
ears,  to  hear  that  Virginia  had  seventy-two  thousand 
sworn  enemies  within  her  borders,  and  thirty  thou 
sand  sympathizers  with  these  sworn  enemies ;  but 
their  faith  was  not  yet  weakened,  their  hope  not  yet 
extinguished;  they  looked  to  their  leader,  and  to 
Virginia,  and  concluded  there  was  some  little  gas 
connected  with  the  numbers  seventy-two  thousand 
and  thirty  thousand. 

Now  it  was  that  the  working  members  (and  they 
were  all  workers)  were  up  very  late,  and  very  early. 
Now  they  began  a  systematic  process  of  button- 
holding,  never  before  approximated  in  Virginia. 
Now  they  formed  deeper  and  more  damnable  plots 
in  secrecy.  Now  they  besieged  men  with  impor 
tunity,  almost  akin  to  force,  and  compelled  them  to 
oaths  against  their  consciences.  Now  they  arrayed 
class  against  class.  Now  they  reeked  their  venom 
and  malevolence  against  the  poor  foreigners.  Now 
for  religion's  sake  they  snatched  the  cross  from  the 
Church,  and  with  impious  hand  trailed  it  in  the 
arena  of  politics.  Now  Virginians,  Democrats,  Union 
lovers,  Southerners,  were  frequently  pained  to  hear 
the  assertions  that  the  professed  principles  of  Sam, 
of  Yankee  origin,  were  more  consonant  with  the 
true  spirit  of  Republicanism  than  the  principles  of 
the  great  southern  sages,  statesmen  and  patriots, 
Jefferson  and  Madison. 

Now,  the  members  of  this  party,  who,  like  slan- 


286       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

derous  vampires,  live  upon  the  fame  and  reputation 
they  detract  from  men  of  worth  and  merit,  descended 
from  principles  to  men,  and  assailed  the  characters  of 
the  Democratic  leaders,  which  were,  however,  too 
lofty  and  elevated  to  receive  a  wound  from  the 
pigmy  shafts  of  slander,  from  their  would-be  detrac 
tors.  Now  the  name  of  a  once  respectable  party  was 
hardly  ever  heard  in  Virginia;  the  Whig  party  had 
been  completely  destroyed,  the  destruction  of  which 
may  be  described  after  the  manner  of  Pharoah's 
dream :  "  And  behold,  there  came  up  out  of  the  river 
even  kine,  fat  fleshed  and  well  favored,  and  they  fed 
in  a  meadow;" — this  is  the  old  Whig  party.  "Arid 
behold  seven  other  kine  came  up  after  them,  poor 
and  very  ill  favored,  and  lean  fleshed  such  as  I  never 
saw  before  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt  for  badness ;" — 
this  is  a  good  description  of  the  Know  Nothing  party. 
And  now  for  the  destruction  of  the  old  Whig  party  • 
"And  the  lean  and  ill  favored  kine  did  eat  up  the 
first  seven  fat  kine ;  and  when  they  had  eaten  them 
up  it  could  not  be  known  that  they  had  eaten  them, 
but  they  were  still  ill  favored  as  at  the  beginning." 
/  Now  the  party  ran  wild  with  various  demonstra 
tions  of  delight;  now  Sam  was  declared  well  and 
healthy;  now  his  friends  were  bragging,  and  betting, 
yes,  betting,  and  giving  odds;  now  deception  and 
trickery  was  the  order  of  "The  Order;"  now  fan 
aticism  ran  wild  in  Virginia. 

Now  it  was  that  a  party  of  reckless  political  ad 
venturers,  desperate  for  the  accomplishment  of  their 
object ;  and  for  this  accomplishment,  ready  to  engage 
in  any  work,  however  questionable  in  its  character; 


LIFE   AND   DEATH  OF   SAM  IN  VIRGINIA.       287 

a  party  of  night  workers,  and  every  other  description, 
except  bold,  manly,  and  honest  workers.  This  party, 
boasting  in  its  strength,  and  inflated  with  victories  in 
States  where  the  spoils  of  the  vanquished  accrued  to 
abolitionism,  now  dared  to  contend  for  supremacy 
with  the  Democracy  of  Virginia.  But  the  Democracy 
resolutely  breasted  this  dark  tide.  They  felt  that 
the  salvation  of  the  Union  itself,  rested  upon  their 
shoulders.  The  Democracy  of  Virginia  had  never 
yet  proved  recreant  to  their  country's  cause,  when 
they  have  been  called  upon  to.  speak,  at  the  polls, 
and  being  now  impressed  with  the  conviction,  that  the 
universal  feeling  of  American  nationality  was  impor 
tuning  them  to  stand  by  the  Union  and  the  Constitu 
tion,  they  determined  to  prove  themselves  worthy  of 
their  country's  expectations.  They  took  their  stand, 
nor  did  they  quail  while  such  a  noble  son  of  liberty 
drilled  their  forces  as 'old  Accomac's  gallant  general 
and  fearless  tribune  of  the  people.  And  in  this  stand 
what  a  spectacle  did  the  Virginia  Democracy  present 
to  the  world  ;  the  idea  was  fast  gaining  ground  in  the 
American  States,  that  the  grand  experiment  of  self- 
government  on  these  shores  was  at  last  to  prove  a 
failure,  as  the  tendency  of  Know  Nothing  principles 
was  to  sap  the  very  foundations  of  our  government. 
Wherever  Know  Nothingism  had  unfurled  its  flag, 
all  the  principles  by  which  the  government  had  been 
so  successfully  administered,  had  been  ignored;  and 
in  this  state  of  things,  wherever  there  lived  and 
breathed  a  patriot,  either  North  or  South,  he  looked 
to  the  result  in  Virginia  with  breathless  anxiety. 


288       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  XXYII. 

THE  Council  into  which  the  reader  has  been  several 
times  introduced,  was  not,  as  he  will  remember,  the 
grand  Council  of  the  State,  but  the  first  Council 
formed  in  Virginia,  under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  Bobby 
Dobby,  the  gentleman  who  received  a  sheepskin  from 
a  northern  college.  We  have  confined  our  observa 
tion's  to  the  mischievous  doings  of  this  Council,  with 
out  endeavoring  to  ferret  out  the  carryings  on  of  the 
numerous  other  culvert  holes,  or  halls ;  this,  though, 
were  an  endless  task.  We  must  now  ask  the  reader 
to  go  with  us  once  more  down  into  the  culvert,  while 
the  Council  is  in  session.  This  is  its  last  meeting  be 
fore  election  day,  and  was  the  occasion  of  many 
speeches  and  congratulations.  The  canvassers  from 
the  mountains  and  from  the  lowlands  were  all  present, 
who  were  addressed  by  old  Captain  Swyburg,  can 
vasser  at  large  for  the  State,  as  follows : — 

"  Brothers,  Patriots,  Americans!  You  have  just 
returned  from  your  arduous  work.  You  have  for 
the  last  several  months  foregone  all  the  comforts  of 
home,  clad  yourselves  in  the  bright  armor  of  truth 
and  Americanism,  and  gone  forth  among  the  people, 
to  break  to  them  the  true  principles  of  liberty  and 
republican  right.  America's  great  heart  thanks  you 
for  the  work.  America's  posterity  will  record  your 
names  on  that  page  of  history  where  live  the  names 
of  Virginia's  benefactors.  You  have  all  of  you  per- 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      289 

formed  well  your  tasks,  and  the  Council  was  singu 
larly  felicitous  in  the  selections  made ;  but  a  single 
one  has  proved  traitor  to  the  cause  -  that  one,  thank 
Heaven,  was  not  a  Virginian.  I  allude  to  Mr.  H. 
Uriah  Hawks,  the  Yankee.  I  met  with  him  in  my 
travels,  after  he  had  deserted  our  ranks,  and  you  may 
depend  upon  it,  I  spared  him  not,  but  lashed  him  into 
shame  and  contrition  for  his  disgraceful  conduct. 
But  the  struggle  is  not  yet  over;  a  few  days  will 
decide  it.  You  have  now  left  the  peculiar  bailiwicks 
assigned  you  for  action,  but  let  me  beg  and  entreat 
you  all  to  exercise  your  best  powers,  to  work  for  Sam 
up  to  and  on  the  election  day,  wherever  you  may  be. 
You  are  now  discharged  from  the  Council  as  can 
vassers;  we  still  claim  you  as  Americans.  In  the 
name  of  the  Council,  in  the  name  of  Americanism,  in 
the  name  of  religion,  I  now,  in  conclusion,  thank  you 
for  the  good  work  you  have  so  zealously  so  admi 
rably  performed." 

Mr.  Dobby  then  entertained  his  friends  present 
with  a  speech. 

"  Brothers,"  said  he,  "  this  is  the  last  time  it  will  be 
our  pleasure  (before  the  great  contest  in  Virginia)  to 
commune  together  with  fraternal  feeling  around  this 
common  council-board.  Pleasant  indeed  has  been 
our  many  re-unions  around  this  council-board.  What 
ever  may  have  been  our  differences  of  opinion,  ac 
tuated  by  the  praiseworthy  desire  to  serve  our  country 
as  best  we  could,  we  laid  all  those  differences  of 
opinion  down  at  yonder  threshold,"  (pointing  to  the 
entrance  of  the  culvert,)  "  and  here  swore  to  protect 
American  interests.  Were  you  a  Democrat,  you 

25 


290       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

found  nothing  here  required  of  you  inconsistent  with 
true  Democratic  principles.  Were  you  a  Whig,  you 
found  nothing  here  required  of  you  that  would  not 
have  commanded  the  approval  and  admiration  of  the 
lamented  Mr.  Clay,  the  great  head  and  front  of  the 
Whig  party.  You  saw  that  the  great  object  of  those 
engaged  in  fostering  the  fortunes  of  this  organization 
was  to  allay  sectional  differences  of  opinion,  which 
were  unfortunately  distracting  the  peace  and  welfare 
of  the  whole  land.  You  saw  at  once  that  this  party 
was  the  Union  party,  the  conservative  party,  which 
the  patriotism  of  the  country  had  called  into  existence, 
to  save  the  Union  from  the  destroying  hands  of  its 
enemies.  This  party  asked  nothing;  no  glittering 
spoils  lured  them  on  to  action,  no  honors  they  asked, 
save  and  except  the  honor  of  being  the  friends  to 
Liberty,  Union,  and  the  Constitution.  As  was  reason 
ably  expected,  such  a  party,  with  such  principles,  has 
found  friends  in  Washington's  native  land.  Vir 
ginians  have  done  well  their  duty,  and  now  number 
seventy-two  thousand  men,  who  have  voluntarily 
come  forward,  and  declared  for  America  and  her 
cause;  while  thirty  thousand  men,  standing  just 
outside,  and  who  are  called  outsiders,  but  are  never 
theless  sympathizers,  and  will  on  election  day  press 
the  great  column  to  one  hundred  and  two  thousand — 
which  places  the  result  almost  beyond  the  possibility 
of  a  doubt.  But,  lest  you  might  infer  from  the  last 
remark,  that  the  time  has  now  come  when  we  may, 
with  impunity,  rest  from  our  labors,  I  would  say, 
such  is  far  from  the  advice  I  would  offer  you.  Let 
us  work  to  the  very  last,  as  if  the  result  of  the  elec 


LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.        291 

tion  depended  upon  your  very  last  effort.  Our  aim 
is,  not  only  to  defeat,  but  to  annihilate  all  opposition 
to  the  American  movement  in  Virginia.  But,  my 
friends,  notwithstanding  the  acceptability  of  the  prin 
ciples  of  our  organization  to  the  American  people, 
they  have  still,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  met  with  a  more 
obstinate  resistance  from  the  Democracy  of  Virginia 
than  from  any  other  quarter.  Here  they  have 
thought  proper  to  indulge  in  much  bitter  vitupera 
tion  against  us.  Many  and  base  have  been  the  slan 
ders  they  have  issued  against  us.  Hard  have  been 
their  endeavors  to  brand  our  principles  as  pernicious, 
and  dangerous  to  southern  interests.  But,  my  friends, 
we  have  borne  all  this  with  manly  composure,  feeling 
that  we  could  not  be  injured  from  the  source  from 
whence  came  the  imbecile  blows  that  were  aimed  at 
vis.  The  people  regarded  all  the  reports,  so  industri 
ously  circulated  against  us,  as  so  much  silly  twaddle 
of  those  who  would  hold  the  spoils  all  in  their  pos 
session.  The  people  were  not  to  be  deceived,  and 
they  flocked  to  our  council-boards,  till  now  the  Coun 
cils  are  well  filled  with  men  animated  by  a  common 
zeal,  desirous  of  but  one  end,  that  of  seeing  America 
ruled  by  Americans.  My  friends,  I  am  not  much  in 
the  habit  of  indulging  in  self-laudation,  but  I  must 
say  to  you,  that  I  do  feel  some  little  self-pride  when 
I  reflect  that  I  was  the  first  to  set  this  ball  in  motion, 
in  our  good  old  State.  If  I  have  done  an  act  in  my 
life  for  which  I  may  be  excused  for  indulging  in  a 
little  self-glorification,  it  is  that  I  was  the  pioneer  in 
Americanism  in  Virginia.  But  a  few  months  ago,  I 
came  to  this  city,  stated  my  plans  to  a  few  noble 


292      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

friends,  who  sympathized  with  me  in  my  desires. 
We  came  together,  formed  the  first  American  Coun 
cil  that  ever  convened  in  Virginia :  from  this  Council 
the  great  work  dates  its  origin  among  us,  and  has 
gone  on  increasing;  till  now,  sister  Councils  have 
been  formed  in  every  corner,  county,  and  town  of  the 
State.  Gentlemen,  I  am  more  than  happy  that  it  has 
been  my  good  fortune  to  do  something  for  my 
country." 

Mr.  Fox  then  made  a  long  speech,  in  which  he 
lauded  his  present  platform,  and  was  intensely  severe 
on  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Cincinnatus  Pate  fol 
lowed,  and  dealt  in  pretty  sharp  denunciations  against 
the  Catholics.  Mr.  Winks  then  arose,  and,  true  to 
his  hobby,  expatiated  on  the  evils  of  foreign  emigra 
tion  to  this  country. 

A  member  then  arose,  and  begged  leave  to  offer 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  which  he 
hoped  would  be  adopted  by  the  Council,  as  a  matter 
of  justice : — 

"  Whereas,  it  is  regarded  by  the  members  of  this 
Council,  and  all  true  Americans  everywhere,  as  a 
grand  principle,  never  to  be  departed  from,  that  the 
warmest  and  best  friends — those  who  have  sacrificed 
the  most  for  the  cause — should  meet  with  warm 
hearted  sympathy,  confidence,  and  remuneration, 
from  their  fellow-laborers,  therefore,  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  our  brother,  Mr.  Bobby  Dobby, 
stands  pre-eminently  before  the  American  party  of 
Virginia,  as  one  who  has  labored  zealously  for  the 
propagation  of  our  principles,  and  is  worthy  of  our 
confidence  in  every  respect. 


LIFE   AND  DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      293 

"  Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  this  original, 
this  northern  Council  in  Virginia,  which  was  formed 
mainly  through  his  instrumentality,  do  bind  ourselves 
to  use  all  honorable  means  to  procure  for  him,  from 
the  next  Legislature,  the  office  of  Secretary  of  the 
Commonwealth. 

"Resolved,  Moreover,  that  when  the  constitutional 
term  of  Mr.  Flournoy  shall  expire,  that  we  pledge 
ourselves  to  exert  our  best  endeavors  to  procure  for 
him  the  succession  to  that  responsible  position. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  our  estimable  friend  and  true 
American,  Captain  Peter  Swyburg,  we  find  a  man 
who  has  labored  hard  for  us,  and  that,  so  far  as  our 
influence  goes,  we  will  exert  that  influence  with  the 
Legislature,  and  endeavor  to  procure  for  him  the 
office  of  Treasurer  of  Virginia,  and  that  he  be  placed 
upon  the  succession  ticket,  as  candidate  for  Lieuten 
ant  Governor. 

"  Resolved.  That  our  brothers,  Messrs.  J.  Gr.  A.  Fox, 
Americus  Winks,  and  Cincinnatus  Pate,  fill  respec 
tively  the  offices  of  Clerk  to  the  House  of  Delegates, 
First  Auditor  and  Second  Auditor  of  the  Common 
wealth. 

"  Resolved,  That  all  the  other  basement  offices  at  the 
Capitol  be  filled  exclusively  by  members  of  the 
American  party. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Council,  our 
Governor,  soon  to  be  elected,  ought  not  to  appoint 
any  but  members  of  our  party  to  any  place  within 
his  gift. 

"  Resolved,  That  our  party  men,  in  every  county  in 
the  State  where  the  party  predominates,  will,  in  the 

25* 


294      LIFE   AND    DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

local  elections  of  the  spring  of  1856,  regularly  or 
ganize,  and  vote  only  for  members  of  this  party, 
except,  however,  that  in  the  counties  where  we  are 
not  in  the  majority,  it  would  be  well  to  cry,  'no 
party'  in  county  offices." 

These  Resolutions  were  adopted  unanimously ;  this 
too  in  the  very  face  of  Mr.  Bobby's  declaration,  which 
he  had  just  made  in  his  speech,  viz. :  "  that  this  party 
asked  for  nothing ;  no  glittering  spoils  lured  them  on 
to  action ;  no  honors  they  desired,  save  and  except 
the  honor  of  being  the  friends  to  Liberty,  Union,  and 
the  Constitution."  This  was  a  fair  specimen  of  what 
all  their  high-sounding  speeches  about  Liberty,  Union, 
&c.,  amounted  to,  when  reduced  to  practice. 

At  a  stated  meeting  of  this  Council,  a  recommen 
dation  had  been  addressed  to  all  the  Councils  in  the 
State,  that  they  should  not  fail,  a  short  time  previous 
to  the  election  day,  to  form  well  all  necessary  plans 
for  operating  on  that  day.  This  Council  now  went 
into  this  business.  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
fabricate  and  have  printed,  ready  for  distribution,  and 
at  the  various  precincts,  all  kinds  of  base  and  dis 
graceful  slanders  against  the  Democracy,  supposing 
they  would  come  to  public  view  too  late  to  allow  the 
Democrats  to  successfully  controvert  them.  One  of 
these,  which  will  serve  as  a  pretty  fair  sample,  was 
the  notorious  certificate  of  one  Thornburg,  in  refer 
ence  to  removals  made  by  the  President  from  tho 
Portsmouth  navy  yard ;  in  which  the  Executive  was 
charged  with  removing  competent  men  from  posi 
tions,  simply  because  they  refused  to  vote  the  Demo 
cratic  ticket.  Men  were  assigned  to  their  various 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIKGINIA.      295 

posts  at  the  precincts  on  election  day.  Runners  were 
appointed  to  go  through  the  country,  beat  up  voters, 
far  and  near,  and  bring  them  to  the  polls.'  Nor  was 
there  any  restriction  placed  upon  these  runners,  but 
each  one  was  enjoined  to  work  and  employ  whatever 
tricks  he  pleased  in  getting  voters  to  vote  the  Know 
Nothing  ticket.  There  were  among  those  runners, 
enough  who  were  ready  to  do  the  dirty  work  and 
engage  in  any  practice  however  odious  to  decency, 
good  morals,  and  honesty.  That  privilege  of  select 
ing  one's  rulers,  when  rightly  appreciated  and  under- 
standingly  exercised,  is  indeed  a  dear  privilege,  was 
most  shamefully  abused  by  members  of  that  party. 
They  seemed  to  forget  that  it  was  a  solemn  and  mighty 
thing  for  a  man  to  approach  the  polls,  and  there  cast 
his  voice  for  or  against  that  which  might  result  in 
good  or  evil  to  him  and  his ;  yea,  to  his  country ; 
and  they  so  formed  their  plans,  that  many  a  weak 
but  honest  man  would  be  robbed  of  his  better  judg 
ment,  and  with  the  drunkard's  reel  wind  to  the  bal 
lot-box,  and  there  cast  a  drunken  vote  for  their 
candidates.  But  not  to  shock  the  reader  with  a  de- 
detailed  account  of  the  abominable  expedients  re 
sorted  to  by  the  original  Council  in  Virginia,  pre 
paratory  to  election  day,  we  will  pass  it  over  with  a 
general  remark,  that  so  utter  a  disregard  for  all  the 
rules  of  propriety,  honesty,  and  Virginia  practices, 
was  never  before  exhibited  by  any  party  of  men  any 
where  w'thin  the  borders  of  the  whole  State. 

After  they  had  gotten  through  with  their  dirty 
work,  a  talented  young  gentlemen  of  the  Order  was 
called  upon  to  deliver  the  valedictory  to  the  Council 


296       LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

Boys,  now  about  to  disperse  for  the  last  time,  before 
the  result  would  be  known  in  the  State. 

"  Friencls  and  brothers,"  said  the  the  member  called 
upon,  "  I  thank  you  for  this  honor,  this  mark  of 
esteem  you  have  been  pleased  to  tender  me  on  this 
occasion.  You  will  excuse  the  few  desultory  remarks 
I  shall  make  to  you. 

"  My  friends,  we  are  now  about  to  disperse.  For 
some  months  we  have  been  meeting  and  communing 
together  here.  These  very  walls,  from  the  glorious 
principles  that  have  here  so  often  been  discussed,  are 
sacred  to  our  eyes.  We  have  met  for  the  purpose 
of  devising  ways  and  means  for  the  salvation  of  our 
country,  for  we  believed  it  is  in  danger  from  many 
dangerous  elements  from  without.  The  most  promi 
nent  of  which  is  the  devastating  tread  of  progressive 
Eomanism,  and  the  influx  of  foreginers  to  these  shores, 
These  evils  we  have  sought  to  check,  actuated  as  we 
have  been  by  the  true  spirit  of  Keligious  and  Ameri 
can  liberty.  Added  to  these  elements  from  without, 
there  has  been  an  internal  element,  stirring  up  strife 
among  brothers  who  ought  to  dwell  together  in  peace, 
I  allude  to  the  slavery  question.  The  position  which 
we  have  taken  upon  the  great  question  is  strictly 
national.  The  opposition  has  all  along  been  howling 
and  bellowing  most  discordantly  about  southern 
rights,  and  all  kinds  of  similar  sectional  nonsense. 
The  American  party,  acting  upon  national  principles, 
ignores  all  sectional  differences,  and  standing  upon 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  has  thrown 
out  the  invitation  to  all  Virginians,  who  are  willing 
to  swear  by  that  instrument,  to  rally  around  the 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF  SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       297 

American  banner.  The  invitation  has  not  been  un 
heeded,  thousands  have  rushed  to  the  call,  and  are 
now  prepared  to  '  lick'  the  opposition  on  24th  of 
May." 

This  thundering  "  curl"  brought  down  the  house, 
and  cheer  after  cheer  rent  the  silence  of  the  midnight 
hour.  When  the  confusion  subsided  the  speaker 
proceeded.  "  My  friends,  as  soon  as  the  American 
party  gets  into  power  in  this  country,  the  turbid 
waves  of  sectionalism,  strife  and  discontent  will 
subside,  and  peace  and  good- will  between  the  now 
contending  parties  resume  its  sway.  Do  you  ask  me 
why  I  say  this  ?  I  answer,  that  if  a  national  admin 
istration  sits  in  Washington,  and  has  the  confidence 
of  the  people,  a  national  sentiment  will  pervade  the 
whole  nation,  and,  believe  me,  the  difficulties  now 
perplexing  these  States,  arising  from  this  question, 
is  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  imbecility  of  the 
administration,  and  the  lack  of  confidence  the  people 
of  all  sections  have  in  him.  Gentlemen,  I  am  not 
committed  to  the  fortunes  of  any  man,  but  take  this 
occasion  of  saying,  that  Yirginia,  the  land  of  Pre 
sidents,  has  a  man  who  is  most  emphatically  the  man 
whom  the  American  party  will  take  great  pleasure 
in  elevating  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  nation. 
Without  calling  his  name,  you  will  understand,  if 
you  have  not  already  anticipated  me,  when  I  say, 
that  he  is  the  man  who,  when  placed  in  nomination 
for  that  office  against  the  nominee  of  the  opposition, 
'  will  head  him  or  die.'  (Tremendous  cheers  again.) 
My  friends,  our  pleasant  meetings  here  are  about  to 
terminate  for  awhile.  Who  is  it  that  is  among  us 


298      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

that  can  look  back  over  the  times  we  have  met  here, 
around  this  board,  without  almost  regretting  that 
time,  which  waits  for  no  man,  has  borne  us  all  along 
almost  to  the  period  when  the  object  we  have  had  in 
view  will  be  consummated,  that  is  to  say,  when  the 
American  party  will  prove  itself  triumphant  in 
Virginia.  It  remains  now  but  for  me  to  say  farewell, 
brave  and  generous  Americans,  you  have  fought 
well  the  great  fight,  Virginia  is  redeemed.  When 
we  meet  again  in  this  Council,  it  will  be  but  to  sing 
songs  of  glorification  over  the  happy  victory  that 
has  placed  our  party  in  power  in  Virginia.  Farewell 
patriots,  go  forth  now,  and  be  mindful  that  you 
render  a  good  account  of  yourselves  on  election 
day." 

And  then  the  Council  dispersed,  and  this  was  the 
last  meeting  of  that  band  of  night-workers  before 
the  election  day.  They  put  out  the  lantern.  The 
culvert  hole  was  black  and  dark.  The  secret  con 
spirators  groped  their  way  towards  home,  perfectly 
satisfied  that  success  would  crown  their  labors. 
Poor  deluded  mortals,  pray  for  thy  short  comings, 
"and  sin  no  more." 


LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF    SAM    IN   VIRGINIA.      299 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

LET  us  now,  just  before  the  election  day,  take  a 
brief  review  of  trie  two  political  parties ;  and  first,  of 
the  Know  Nothing  party.  It  has  been  seen  that  this 
party  had  its  origin  among  the  abolitionists  of  the 
free  States ;  that  there  its  effects  were  blasting  to 
every  sentiment  of  liberty  and  republicanism;  that 
there  it  bore  down  every  thing  like  nationality  and 
conservatism;  that  it  was  gotten  up  with  the  view  of 
furthering  the  views  of  the  fanatics  of  that  land  in 
their  own  sectional  designs. 

Then,  in  time,  it  was  cunningly  introduced  South. 
It  came  to  Virginia  covered  in  the  folds  of  darkness 
and  of  secrecy.  It  came  exacting  oaths  from  those 
who  would  be  initiated  into  its  mysteries.  It  came 
the  professed  friend  of  liberty  and  of  republican 
right.  Its  followers  professed  to  be  actuated  alone 
by  feelings  of  patriotism;  that  they  were  strangers  to 
the  politician's  corrupt  desires  to  reap  the  spoils  of 
office.  It  came  to  tell  us  in  Virginia  that  Americans 
should  rule  America;  and  that  the  Eoman  Catholics 
were  becoming  very  powerful.  It  thought  America 
in  danger  from  foreigners,  and  that  the  Protestant 
religion  was  suffering  greatly  from  Romanism.  It 
came  with  the  hypocritical  whinings  of  Yankee  abo 
lition  preachers,  taking  much  righteousness  unto 
itself,  while  in  truth,  it  was  the  foulest  ism  that  ever 
dared  to  ask  for  acceptance  in  Washington's  native 


300      LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

land.  It  put  forth  a  public  declaration,  or  basis  of 
principles,  as  the  rules  of  faith  it  adhered  to— rthere 
was  nothing  in  this  basis  of  principles  that  Virginia 
Democrats  could  object  to.  But,  lo  and  behold !  this 
basis  was  put  forth  but  to  deceive  and  mislead  the 
public — while  the  rules  of  faith,  which  they  were 
sworn  to  follow,  were  revealed  only  in  the  Council- 
room  to  sworn  men.  Who  were  the  men  who,  in 
Virginia,  first  embraced  this  northern  creed  ?  Why, 
the  old-fashioned  Whigs  and  Federalists  led  the  van; 
these  were  followed  by  the  discontented,  the  disap 
pointed,  the  captious  of  all  parties,  and  all  who  hoped 
to  better  their  political  fortunes,  apparently  not  re 
flecting  on  what  they  were  doing. 

This  party  sprung  up,  as  it  were,  in  a  day — 
thorough  organization  was  speedily  effected ;  and 
very  soon  midnight  Councils  were  in  operation  in  all 
sections  of  the  State. 

After  organization,  then  it  was  that  this  party 
began  a  career  which  increased  in  iniquity,  till  in 
time,  it  gained  the  signal  distinction  of  having  sur 
passed  in  evil  and  disgraceful  devices  and  expe 
dients,  any  party  that  ever  strove  for  ascendancy 
in  Virginia.  Something  of  that  career  the  writer 
has  imperfectly  sketched  in  the  foregoing  pages  of 
this  history. 

A  review  of  the  course  of  the  Democracy  may  be 
summed  up  in  a  word,  The  Virginia  Democracy, 
true  to  their  ancient  faith,  adhered  to  their  land 
marks — stood  upon  their  platform — a  platform  not 
made  for  a  year,  or  a  campaign,  but  for  time — un 
furled  their  same  old  flag  that  had  witnessed  so  many 


LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.       301 

brilliant  triumphs ;  and  with  a  true  man  to  bear  these 
colors,  they  feared  nothing,  but  were  ready  for  the 
final  struggle.  They  felt  that  they  had  done  their 
duty — and  if  Know  Nothingism  in  its  might  had 
come  to  crush  Virginia  and  the  South,  they  could 
only  lament  it.  They  had  striven  to  roll  the  black 
tide  of  fanaticism  back  from  Virginia.  They  had 
endeavored  to  protect  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and 
were  it  possible  for  Washington  to  rise  from  the 
grave,  they  could  look  him,  the  great  father  of  the 
country,  in  the  face,  and  proudly  say,  father  of  this 
happy  land,  we  have  done  our  duty;  and  can  any 
doubt  that  his  answer  would  be,  "Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servants." 

They  had  fought  their  best  fight  for  truth  against 
error,  and  could  do  nothing  more. 

Election  day  now  dawned,  and  Virginia  was  to 
declare  for  Democracy  or  for  Know  Nothingism. 
Look  now  at  Sam  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  how 
happy  he  looks — how  hale,  hearty  and  strong,  as 
he  struts  around  the  polls — how  he  exults  in  his 
seventy-two  thousand  sworn  backers,  and  the  thirty 
thousand  who  are  ready  to  come  to  the  rescue.  He 
brags,  he  bets,  he  treats,  he  drinks,  he  does  every  thing 
to  try  to  increase  the  one  hundred  and  two  thousand. 
His  valiant  runners  are  abroad  in  the  land  to  bring 
to  the  rescue  the  blind,  the  lame,  the  palsied,  and 
the  sick.  Wagons,  with  strong  teams  and  fleet,  are 
brought  into  requisition,  to  bring  in  those  who  keep 
no  beasts  of  burden,  and  would  remain  at  home  but 
for  Sam's  generosity.  The  wagons  empty  their  pre 
cious  cargoes  of  Sams,  and  roll  away  for  more. 

26 


302       LIFE  AND  DEATH   OF  SAM   IN  VIRGINIA. 

The  voting  now  begins ;  a  Sam  goes  up,  the  cryer 
ealls  out,  "FLOURNOY,  BEALE,  PATTON,"  and  that 
Sam's  work  is  done.  The  cried  vote  is  the  signal  for 
immense  applause  from  all  of  Sam's  boys  in  hearing 
— every  vote  thus  given  calls  forth  renewed  applause. 

The  day  advances,  and  much  of  Sam's  strength  is 
evidently  spent.  His  huzzahs  become  weaker  and 
less  frequent.  Another  hour  goes,  and  his  strength 
is  failing  him  fast — he  seldom  cheers  now,  and  looks 
care-worn  and  dispirited.  All  this  time  the  Demo 
cratic  column  is  steadily  advancing.  The  last  rays 
of  the  sun  now  linger  on  the  mountain's  top — and 
Sam  is  prostrate.  The  sun  goes  down,  the  polls  are 
closed,  and  alas !  alas !  for  the  hopes,  the  boasts — of 
man — the  great  Sam  is  no  more — "dead" — "dead" — 
"  dead."  The  poll  is  counted — the  last  sad  requieum 
is  sung. 

His  sudden  death  called  for  the  Coroner  and  his 
jury.  This  mournful  task  is  done — his  lifeless  corpse 
examined;  and  here  is  the  verdict,  rendered  by  good 
Democratic  jurors ;  for  the  officiating  officer  did  not 
wish  to  harrow  the  feelings  of  any  of  the  friends  of 
the  departed,  by  calling  them  to  the  examination : 
Sam,  the  Yankee,  alias  the  old  "Whig  party,  alias 
Know  Nothingism,  alias  Americanism,  who  has, 
within  the  twelve  months  past,  been  quite  notorious 
in  Virginia,  and  who,  with  high  hand,  has  been  trying 
to  introduce  dogmas  into  Virginia,  and  the  South, 
that  ought  not  to  be  countenanced  among  us,  did  sud 
denly  come  to  his  death,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  24th 
day  of  May,  1855,  by  the  pierces  he  received  during 
that  day,  from  Democratic  votes.  His  whole  carcass 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA.      303 

was  stuck  full  of  these  unerring  arrows  of  truth,  and 
Republicanism;  and,  on  estimation,  he  received 
some  ten  thousand  more  than  were  necessary  to  pro 
duce  death. 

The  verdict  rendered,  he  was  then  placed  in  the 
hands  of  his  sorrowful  friends,  who  bore  the  mangled 
corpse  down  into  the  damp,  deep,  dark  culvert. 

The  hall  was  decked  in  the  full  draperies  of 
mourning.  Who  could  describe  the  melancholy- 
scene  there  enacted,  on  that  dark  and  dreary  night? 
The  glare  of  the  dark  lantern,  shedding  an  uncertain 
light  upon  all  around.  The  pallor  of  the  corpse — the 
black  hangings  around  the  couch  upon  which  it  was 
laid  out — the  swollen  and  lugubrious  countenances 
of  sorrowing  friends,  rendered  the  scene  utterly  be 
yond  description.  Funeral  services,  appropriate  to 
the  occasion,  were  conducted.  Many  highly  wrought 
eulogies  pronounced  over  the  transcendant  virtues  of 
the  deceased — many  mournful  dirges  sung ;  and 
lastly,  preparations  made  for  carrying  the  corpse  to 
its  last  resting  place,  high  up  on  the  banks  of  the 
salubrious  "  Salt  River." 

The  next  night  the  funeral  procession,  composed  of 
something  less  than  one  hundred  and  two  thousand 
Virginia  voters,  started  for  the  boat,  which  was  to 
convey  them  along  the  delightful  waters  of  the  river, 
up  to  the  deep  dug  grave,  close  to  the  mound  which 
marks  the  resting  place  of  Whiggery. 

The  formers  of  the  original  Council  in  Virginia 
were  the  pall-bearers.  The  procession  embarked 
upon  the  boat,  that  was  to  bear  them  away.  A 
curious  craft  it  was  too,  such  as  was  never  seen  in 


304       LIFE   AND   DEATH    OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

Virginia  before.  It  looked  like  a  Yankee  model, 
and  was  composed  of  the  odds  and  ends  of  every 
description  of  weak,  rotten  and  sappy  timber.  The 
flag  floated  at  half-mast — a  light  breeze  sprung  up, 
as  if  anxious  to  aid  them  in  their  efforts  to  leave  Vir 
ginia's  shore,  and  ere  the  light  of  day  they  had  safely 
reached  their  place  of  destination.  Dust  to  dust; 
and  Sam  was  lowered  into  the  tomb,  by  the  honored 
pall-bearers  ;  so  that  the  reader  who  first  beheld  Mr. 
DJbby,  Captain  Swyburg,  Mr.  Fox,  Mr.  Pate  and  Mr 
Winks,  in  the  dark  room,  on  the  dark  night,  taking 
the  initiatory  steps  towards  the  introduction  of  Sam 
into  Virginia,  now  beholds  them  for  the  last  time, 
while  they  are  performing  the  last  sad  act  of  respect 
to  the  remains  of  Sam,  from  Yankee  land. 

A  simple   slab   marks  the   grave;    on    which  is 
written : — 


HERE  LIES  THE  VALIANT  "  SAM. 

HE   DEPARTED   THIS   LIFE 

ON  THE  24TH  DAY  OF  MAY,  1855, 

FIGHTING  BRAVELY  FOR  AMERICAN  PRINCIPLES. 

PATRIOTS  ;    BE  MINDFUL  J 
AND  TREASURE  A    REMEMBRANCE  OF  HIS  DEEDS. 


LIFE  AND   DEATH  OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA.       305 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

AND  now  that  Sam,  in  Virginia,  is  dead  and 
buried,  high  up  near  the  head  waters  of  "  Salt 
River,"  all  nature  seems  to  wear  a  smiling  face,  and 
to  rejoice  with  the  invincible  Democracy  in  the 
great  glory  they  had  so  gallantly  won.  In  slaying 
this  great  monster  of  darkness,  more  like  to  his 
"  Satanic  Majesty,"  than  any  demon  that  had  ever 
set  foot  on  Virginia  soil  before,  a  great  incubus  was 
removed  from  the  State ;  and  everybody  seemed  to 
breathe  freer  than  while  the  poison  which  emanated 
from  it  floated  on  the  atmosphere. 

The  news  of  Sam's  death,  so  gratefully  received 
at  the  South,  was,  at  the  North,  the  occasion  of  much 
weeping,  mourning  and  lamentation. 

It  now  only  remains  for  us  to  take  leave  of  those 
who  have  been  actors  in  this  little  drama.  -<The 
curtain  has  already  fallen  upon  Mr.  Dobby,  Old 
Captain  Swyburg,  Mr.  Fox,  Mr.  Pate,  and  Mr. 
Winks,  as  they  pitched  the  cold  clods  into  poor 
Sam's  grave. 

Mr.  H.  Uriah  Hawks  is  still  upon  his  mountain 
farm,  as  happy  as  a  prince,  with  his  pretty  moun 
tain  bride,  conducts  himself  well,  has  never  carried 
any  of  old  Mr.  Laubinger's  negroes  off;  and,  lastly, 
he  gave  a  good  Democratic  vote  on  the  24th  of 
May,  1855. 

26* 


306      LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IN   VIRGINIA. 

His  friend  Ike  Davis  settled  near  him,  and  never 
saw  the  "  Know  Nothing  elephant." 

Wail  after  wail,  issued  from  Mr.  Turner's  paper, 
and  from  all  the  little  sub-organs  of  the  villages. 
Mr.  Turner  will  not  be  comforted,  his  reputation  for 
prophesying  is  entirely  lost ;  and  more  than  this,  he 
has  caused  many  a  poor  Know  Nothing  to  lose  the 
money  which  he  so  rashly  advised  him  to  lay 
against  good  Democratic  stakes. 

Black  Old  Sip  is  still  alive,  and  has  been  heard  to 
say,  with  a  hearty  chuckle,  "  Well,  de  'Mericans  is 
'feated,  Sam  are  kilt,  and  I  are  very  glad  intotally 
that  it  is  as  it  is.  Marster  knows  de  right,  he  say  so, 
and  dat  am  enuff  for  dis  chile.  I  is  glad  at  what 
ever  disappints  de  Yankees.  Marster  telled  a  gen 
tleman,  tother  day,  dat  dey  will  grieve  to  hear  de 
'zult  in  '  Old  Yirginny.'  I  is  agin  these  North  folks 
all  time  of  de  day,  I  is  sartain." 

The  Know  Nothing  canvassers  have  nothing  now 
to  do  politically,  nor  are  they  likely  to  be  employed 
again,  at  least,  for  some  time  to  come. 

The  tavern-keeper  in  the  Tenth  Legion,  who 
guarded  the  "  structure  in  the  vacant  lot,"  did,  on 
the  reception  of  the  news  declaring  the  result,  burn 
"that  barrel  of  tar,"  concluding  that  the  occasion 
could  not  now  arise  which  would  call  it  into 
requisition. 

Maurice  Meredith  was  defeated  in  the  election. 
The  key  the  Know  Nothings  placed  in  his  hands 
had  failed  to  unlock  the  promised  gates.  Though 
two  gates,  not  promised,  not  hoped  for,  yielded  to 
the  force  of  that  key.  First,  disappointment  in  his 


LIFE   AND   DEATH   OF   SAM   IX   VIRGINIA.      307 

political  aspirations ;  second,  disappointment  in  the 
delicate  and  tender  matter  of  the  heart.  He  wished 
now  that  he  had  only  yielded  to  love's  voice,  and 
turned  a  deaf  ear  to  ambition's  alluring  promises. 
But  it  was,  alas,  too  late ;  the  fatal  decision  had  been 
made ;  he  had  lost  Fannie ;  he  had  lost  all  prospect 
of  rising  politically.  Reader,  behold  him  now  for 
the  last  time!  See  that  man  with  flushed  cheeks,  and 
swollen  eyes,  bloodshot  and  heavy — see  how  he  reels 
along — hear  his  wild,  incoherent  yells  that  rend  the 
air !  Do  you  recognize  him  ?  That  man  is  Maurice 
Meredith,  who  began  life  with  so  much  promise. 
Disappointment  and  despair  have  driven  him  to  the 
wine-cup ;  and  unless  he  is  rescued  early  from  his 
downward  course,  he  will  fill  the  drunkard's  grave, 
and  then  that  fatal  Know  Nothing  key  will,  in 
directly,  unlock  other  gates — the  gates  of  endless 
woe. 

And  next  of  Fannie?  What  of  her?  She  is 
happy  at  her  father's  house.  The  reader  will  re 
member,  that  in  her  first  hours  of  grief,  her  mental 
anguish  was  excessive;  that  in  one  of  her  letters  to 
Maurice,  she  went  so  far  as  to  intimate  that  the 
sacred  shades  of  the  cloister  were  beckoning  her  in 
that  direction.  But  since  Maurice  had  refused  to 
make  any  sacrifice  for  her,  she  concluded  that  he 
was  unworthy  of  woman's  constant  love,  and  soon 
learned  to  feel,  'tis  well  that  we  have  parted. 

Mr.  Dew,  her  old  lover,  who  rendered  such  dis 
tinguished  service  to  the  Democratic  cause,  is  again 
a  frequent  visitor  at  her  father's  house;  he  is,  too,  a 
great  favorite  with  the  old  gentleman,  and  people 


308       LIFE  AND   DEATH   OF  SAM  IN   VIRGINIA. 

are  beginning  to  say,  "Well,  well,  I  do  believe  that 
Fannie  Bell  and  Mr.  Dew  will  make  a  match  after 
all."  ' 

The  gallant  leader  of  the  Yirginia  Democracy 
waits  to  be  crowned  Virginia's  governor.  He  will 
wear  well  the  honors  of  a  single  State,  and  should 
the  nation  ever  call  him  to  its  service,  he  will  serve 
well,  with  "STATE'S  EIGHTS"  and  "UNION"  for  his 
motto.  He  would  throw  the  Constitution  as  a  shield 
around  State's  rights — a  national  administration 
would  be  a  buckler  to  the  Union. 


THE   END. 


CALL'S  VIRGINIA  REPORTS, 

VOLS  1,  2,  AND  3 — THIRD  EDITION. 

To  which  are  added  Copious  Notes  and  Keferences  to  Statutes 
,    and  subsequent  adjudications,  by  LUOIAN  MINOR,  ESQ.,   Profes 
sor  of  Law  in  William  and  Mary  College.     Price  $15  00. 

NOTICES  OF  THE  PEESS. 

"  Call's  Reports  are,  perhaps,  the  most  valuable  and  useful  of 
the  Virginia  Reports,  as  they  contain  the  opinions  of  Judges 
Roane,  Pendleton,  Wythe,  Lyons,  and  others  of  our  early  and 
most  eminent  Jurists,  upon  nearly  every  legal  question  of  impor 
tance.  "We  have  carefully  compared  the  third  edition,  now  pub 
lished,  with  the  second  edition  of  CALL,  and  find  that  a  large  and 
really  most  valuable  amount  of  matter  has  been  added  by  the 
accomplished  editor. 

"  All  of  the  changes  in  the  train  of  decisions,  over-ruled  cases, 
and  additional  light  upon  points  obscure  and  uncertain,  have  been 
industriously  and  admirably  arranged  and  collected  in  the  present 
edition. 

"  The  learned  editor  has  added  not  less  than  twenty  important 
decisions  to  the  original  authorities  cited  in  one  case,  collected 
from  all  the  more  recent  English  and  American  decisions.  A  new 
edition  of  Call  has  long  been  needed  in  this  State,  and  the  third 
edition  can  be  safely  recommended  to  the  profession." — Richmond 
Examiner. 

"  After  a  careful  comparison  of  this  with  the  former  editions  of 
the  work,  we  can  unhesitatingly  pronounce  its  vast  superiority ; 
and  this  is  so  distinctly  marked,  and  the  advantages  of  these 
volumes  so  very  great,  that  the  practising  lawyer,  even  though  he 
should  now  be  in  possession  of  former  editions,  should  not  fail  to 
possess  himself  of  this." — Evening  Bullttin. 

"  The  peculiar  advantages  of  this  edition,  consist  in  the  Notes 
of  Cases  which  have  been  added,  and  the  emendations  of  the  Sylla 
bus  of  the  Cases  reported,  which  are  made  by  the  present  editor. 

"  Mr.  Minor's  well  known  accuracy  entitles  these  changes  to  the 
strictest  reliance  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  the  legal  profes 
sion,  and  we  doubt  not,  that  they  will  regard  this  book  as  a  valua 
ble  accession  to  their  libraries. 

"  In  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  third  volume,  we  need 
only  repeat,  that  Mr.  Minor  has  fulfilled  his  task  admirably." — 
Sjut/terti  Literary  Messenger. 


PREPARING  FOR  PUBLICATION, 

The  most  Important  and  Valuable  Work  ever  offered  to  the  considera 
tion  of  the  Lawyers  of  Virginia. 


MR.  LUCIAN  MINOR'S 
EDITION    OF    THE    VIRGINIA    REPORTS, 

Upon  a  similar  plan  to  that  adopted  by  Judge  CURTIS  in  his 
edition  of  the  Decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  which  has  met  the  hearty  approval,  not  only  of  the  Judges 
of  that  Court,  but  a  large  number  of  the  ablest  members  of  the 
profession  in  the  United  States. 

Reports  of  Cases  argued  and  determined  in  the  Court  of  Appeals 
of  Virginia,  from  Jefferson  to  6th  Randolph,  inclusive ;  em 
bracing  a  series  of  27  volumes.  In  six  or  seven  royal  octavo 
volumes,  of  about  600  pages  each.  At  the  low  price  of  $6  00 
per  volume.  By  LUCIAN  MINOR,  Esq.,  Professor  of  Law  in 
William  and  Mary  College. 

The  plan  of  this  important  undertaking  has  been  meditated  by 
the  talented  editor  for  a  number  of  years  ;  and  the  publisher,  after 
repeated  applications  from  the  profession  for  such  an  edition  of  the 
VIRGINIA  REPORTS,  has  made  arrangements  for  their  publication, 
provided  he  receives  from  the  profession  a  promise  of  that  material 
aid  necessary  to  complete  a  work  of  such  magnitude. 

All  arguments  of  counsel  will  be  omitted,  except  when  required 
to  make  the  points  of  a  case  intelligible,  by  the  Court's  having 
given  no  reason  for  its  opinion.  The  arguments  not  omitted  will 
be  abridged ;  and  the  original  reporter's  narratives  of  the  cases, 
and  the  opinions  of  the  Judges,  will  be  yet  more  abridged ;  and  to 
each  case  will  be  appended  the  substance  of  posterior  enactments, 
or  decisions  that  confirm,  alter  or  modify  it. 

VOL.  I.  IN  PRESS, 

Embracing  the  four  volumes  of  Hening  &  Munford's  Reports,  in 
one  elegant  super  royal  8vo  volume  of  800  pages.     Price,  $6  00. 

VOLS.  II.  AND  III. 

Now  preparing,  will  embrace  the  six  volumes  of  Munford's  Re 
ports. 

The  volumes  of  the  Reports  which  the  publisher  proposes  to 
furnish  at  from  Thirty  to  Forty  Dollars,  now  cost,  even  at  the  pre 
sent  reduced  prices,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-tcL-en  Dollars. 

Gentlemen  desiring  the  work  will  please  address  the  publisher, 

A.  MORRIS,  Richmond,  Va. 


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